OST request disaster funds from Biden Administration

PINE RIDGE—Newly elected Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out has sent an 18-page disaster relief request letter to President Biden, dated January 19, 2023, to the tune of a million and a half dollars, “…due to the devastation caused by two blizzards…that occurred on the Pine Indian Ridge Reservation from December 12-26, 2022.”

On page six of the request letter, the nature of the disaster is detailed: “…a potent and long lasting low pressure system brought widespread snow and blizzard conditions to much of the Northern Plains from late Monday, December 12…through Friday, December 16…the snow started with a period of freezing drizzle…ice accumulations resulted in slippery roads and hazardous driving conditions…strong northwesterly winds, gusting to 60 mph or higher, led to blowing and drifting snow throughout the event and contributed to upslope enhanced snowfall over the Northern Black Hills and foothills…from Pine Ridge eastward, two to three feet were reported…the blizzard conditions were exacerbated by wind chill conditions as low as -45 to -50 degrees…”

After a brief respite, hazardous driving conditions reoccurred on December 21, and continued until the day after Christmas. Some the impacts from the storm on tribal members, according to the request letter, were:: vehicles, stalled, towed, destroyed by roadside drifts; convenience stores and other reservations business lost income due to inaccessibility; persons released from tribal jail had to be sheltered because they were trapped by adverse conditions; ranchers were unable to feed and care for their livestock; tribal members lost chickens, they relied on for meat and eggs.

Star Comes Out requested President Biden “waive the cost share on the Oglala Sioux Tribe based upon the United States’ federal trust responsibility to provide aid and protect the persons, property and lives of tribal members…”

Also requested in a previous December 16 letter to Washington were aid from Ellsworth Air Force Base and other federal and state agencies connected with FEMA and disaster and relief efforts. Star Comes Out pointed out that OST remains in an inadequate underfunded response posture, and as tribal chairman he appears to be proactively using this disaster to create an effective response for the next disaster so the negative impact on tribal members, tribal commerce, and tribal travel can be minimized.

The requested aid package was detailed as follows:

1. Nine new snowplows (one for each of nine districts) $135,000
2. Nine new snow blowers (one for each of nine districts) $135,000
3. Personnel wages to run equipment $100,000
4. Cost of fuel for equipment and vehicles:
5. Equipment fuel $90,000
6. Police vehicle fuel $225,000
7. Fuel for medical related transportation $135,000
8. Energy assistance for private homes $450,000
9. Supplemental subsistence grants $225,000

TOTAL—$1,495,000

This disaster occurred during the transition period between the previous Kevin Killer Administration and the Star Comes Out administration but the tribal response does not appear to have been hampered by the transition. Star Comes Out’s desire to upgrade future tribal response to disaster situations is a positive first action for his new administration. His need to do so indicates past tribal administrations did not do same.

(Contact James Giago Davies at skindiesel@msn.com)

 

 

 

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