High Winds Damage Homes on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION – High winds caused severe damages to several homes and power outages in the Oglala district of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation last night. Several people suffered injuries when their homes were blown down and were taken to the Pine Ridge Indian Health Service Hospital for treatment and monitoring.

President Yellow Bird Steele

President John Yellow Bird Steele immediately activated emergency response teams to the location and an emergency meeting was held earlier last night at the Oglala District CAP Office to deal with the immediate needs of the families whose homes were destroyed.

Cis Big Crow, the Tribe's Red Cross contact person, reported that some of the families who lost their homes were temporarily sheltered with relatives and others were offered lodging at the Prairie Wind Casino hotel until further housing arrangements could be made. She will be working with Red Cross tomorrow to help the displaced families with providing some assistance for their basic needs; such as clothing, food and personal items.

President Yellow Bird Steele stated,

"I do not yet know the full extent of damages caused by the high winds; however I am in contact with the Tribal Chief of Police, Tribal Emergency Manager and others and they will be providing my office with an assessment on this situation. Right now, I have tribal members who have been traumatized and their immediate needs are my priority. After they have been situated, I will begin efforts to work with federal agencies such as FEMA and others to try to do what we can to stabilize the situation in Oglala. We have yet to learn if there are other areas on the Pine Ridge Reservation whom have sustained damages as well."

For more information please contact Wayne Weston, Tribal Emergency Manager for the Oglala Sioux Tribe at 605.407.9059 or email Wayne@oglala.org and/or Donna Salomon, Public Relations Coordinator, Oglala Sioux Tribal President's Office at 605.867.8427 or 605.867.8422 or email DonnaS@oglala.org

posted July 23, 2012 7:59 am edt