PINE RIDGE, S.D. – The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are establishing a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for individuals who experience damage during the severe storms from May 8-29. The DRC will open Saturday, August 15 at 9:00 a.m. at the SuAnne Big Crow Recreational Center, 1 Positive Pl. – E HWY 82, Pine Ridge.

The DRC is set up for residents who would like to speak one-on-one to recovery representatives, but it’s not necessary to visit a center to receive disaster assistance. The fastest way to register with FEMA is by phone or online. Those impacted can call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or go online at www.fema.gov or www.disasterassistance.gov. The registration line is open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. until further notice. Individuals may also register by smart phone at m.fema.gov. 

Even if residents previously registered with the tribe, with a voluntary agency, or provided damage reports they must still register with FEMA to access federal disaster assistance programs.

The DRC will be open daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. until further notice.  Additional locations will be set up throughout the reservation.  A schedule and more details on these locations will be released at a later date.  In addition, The Oglala Sioux and FEMA will be providing transportation to and from the disaster recovery center from the Oglala District office every other hour starting Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.

Customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be at the centers to answer questions about SBA’s federal low-interest disaster loans and help business owners and residents complete their application.

FEMA Mitigation specialists are scheduled to be on hand at the DRC to provide information and answer questions about cost-effective rebuilding and repair techniques to reduce property damage in future disasters.