U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) sent a letter to President Trump in support of Gov. Kristi Noem’s (R-S.D.) request for a major disaster declaration in South Dakota following severe late-winter storms, high winds, heavy rain, and flooding that began on March 13, 2019.
“The widespread damage from storms this spring is evident in areas across our state, including the 58 counties and four Indian Reservations identified in the governor’s disaster declaration request,” the delegation wrote. “The storms damaged our roads, bridges, and culverts, while also impacting livestock, homes, and businesses. Rural roads, many of which are gravel and highly vulnerable to water damage, form critical infrastructure for our farmers and ranchers whose work forms the backbone of the South Dakota economy.”