One Year Of Pine Ridge Disaster Recovery

The Pine Ridge reservation now has over 200 new or repaired homes following a disaster that struck in the spring of 2015. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and tribal officials are marking one year of recovery following a unique Presidential Disaster Declaration.

President Obama’s Individual Assistance declaration to Pine Ridge was the first ever made directly to a tribal nation. FEMA then initiated the first permanent housing construction program in the continental United States. FEMA also provided additional direct financial aid to the community.

Brian Hvinden is with FEMA. He says a federal interagency disaster recovery coordination team is working with local government to support long-term recovery. He says the team’s housing focus has received overwhelmingly positive responses.

http://listen.sdpb.org/post/one-year-pine-ridge-disaster-recovery#stream/0