FEMA stands for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It is in charge of organizing how the federal government prepares for, prevents, and responds to disasters.
A large amount of FEMA’s duties include helping people recover from natural catastrophes. FEMA offers government funding to victims to help with burial and medical costs, other related costs, loss of personal property, emergency home repairs, and temporary housing.
FEMA for South Dakota Deadline
There are two weeks left for South Dakotans who were impacted by this summer’s severe cyclones in Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties to apply for federal disaster relief.
The last date is October 15, 2024.
Apply for FEMA Aid
- Take a look at the Center for Disaster Recovery and visit fema.gov/drc to see a list of Disaster Recovery Centers near you, or text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362.
- For online assistance, please go to DisasterAssistance.gov in English or DisasterAssistance.gov/es in Spanish.
- Use the FEMA mobile application.
- Until further notice, call the 800-621-3362 disaster relief helpline at any time between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week. There are available operators who speak several languages. Wait times are more likely to be shorter in the morning and evening. Any person who uses a relay service—such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or other such services—may provide FEMA with the provider’s phone number.
Some Numbers
As of September 29, federal agencies have authorized grants and loans totaling $12,866,243.04 to support the recovery efforts in South Dakota following President Biden’s major disaster proclamation on August 15.
1,310 people from the counties of Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union have applied for aid with FEMA. A total of $8,255,543.04 has been granted by FEMA for the Individuals and Households program.
This amount is split between $2,638,455.07 in Other Needs Assistance, which covers moving costs, car repair or replacement, personal property repair or replacement, and other needs related to disasters, and $5,617,087.97 in Housing Assistance, which covers house repairs and rental fees.
Furthermore, $4,610,700 in low-interest catastrophe funding has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for use by homeowners, renters, and small enterprises.
Stay in Touch
If you have already applied for disaster aid, you need to keep in touch with FEMA and update your contact details. In order for FEMA to process your aid or determine your eligibility, they might need more information from you. Please be aware that your caller ID may display an unknown number as the source of communications from FEMA.