Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Disaster Relief
Posted: February 5th, 2010“I want to say thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do for my people, I’m very grateful to all the donations, which provided my tribal members the availability to good drinking water, clothes, warmth, light at night and food. We still continue to serve and observe the situations here. The next step will be recovery, I pray this goes well for us. Wopila Tanka! (Great Thanks).” -Tribal Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty (February 4, 2010 post on disaster relief Facebook page)
Eagle Butte, SD (January 30, 2010) - The Cheyenne River Reservation located in the State of South Dakota, homeland of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, is currently facing an emergency situation due to an ice storm that crippled the electrical and water infrastructure. Though the ice storm has passed, the water and power system remains challenged and several reservation communities have been without power for over ten (10) days. Moreover, a bitterly cold weather system is expected to come in by Sunday evening.
Therefore, the Tribe continues to operate an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate communications, relief efforts, and resource distribution. The phone numbers for the EOC have been changed to (605) 964-1313 and (605) 964-1314 and the location has moved to the Cheyenne River Sioux Cable Television office on Main St. in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.
Though some communities have a water supply, the Tribe has organized an emergency water distribution to the east end of the reservation today. Tomorrow, an emergency water distribution will be coming into the west end communities. More information will be forthcoming regarding emergency water distribution to the communities outside of Eagle Butte over the next week. Any resulting sewage or pipe damage from the breakdown in the water system should be reported to the Emergency Operations Center.
Emergency shelters in Eagle Butte, Cherry Creek, La Plant, Swiftbird, Red Scaffold, Takini, Bear Creek, Timber Lake, and Whitehorse have been converted into Emergency Shelter/Distribution Centers. These Centers will distribute goods and supplies that are essential to surviving the winter and the impending cold front. A large amount of supplies will be delivered to these Centers tomorrow.
The reservation has had over 3,000 utility poles damaged or destroyed. The water system was completely broken down by the ice storm and resulting power outage. The Tribe hopes to secure vital resources and donations for reservation residents which face continued water shortages and power outages. Several communities will remain without electricity or water and will need basic supplies to survive this winter.
Related links:
Associated Press report Sioux reservation struggling after winter storms
Facebook page for Tribal Disaster Relief
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