The Davison County Office of Emergency Management wants to provide you with some basic information to use if you have sustained losses or damages during a disaster. Initially, we need to complete a damage assessment of the county. If we meet the minimum criteria, we will submit a disaster declaration request to the state. To gather this information, we request all affected residents to enter your information @
To determine the degree of damage to your home, please use the following criteria: Appendix E-IA Damage Assessment Matrix. If and when the disaster is approved by the President, affected citizens can register with FEMA for assistance. Assistance will be approved or denied on an individual basis.
Under the Assessment portion of the form, there are levels of damage your constituents can choose.
- None/unaffected
- Affected (An example is water in basements that is 6” or below and damages sheetrock.)
- Minor (Damage from flood waters when the waterline is 18” or below in a conventionally built home or when the waterline is in the floor system of a manufactured home. For most homes, this will be the main floor living area. Water in basements isn’t applicable UNLESS there is a bedroom in the basement AND it is the primary living space for a current household resident.)
- Major (Damage from flood water when the waterline is 18” or above in a conventionally built home or when the waterline enters the living space of a manufactured home. For most homes, this will be the main floor living area. Water in basements isn’t applicable UNLESS there is a bedroom in the basement AND it is the primary living space for a current household resident.)
- Destroyed (significant enough damage that the home is deemed a total loss)
Important information regarding your loss:
- The maximum FEMA Grant is $35,500. Additional rental assistance funding may be available for those who were displaced.
- SBA Loans can be up to $200,000 in Real Property and $40,000 in Personal Property.
- The way the water entered the residence is not a deciding factor on eligibility.
- Personal property can be claimed under Individual Assistance.
- Renters can claim personal property loss.
- Only primary residence damage is covered, along with driveways or private roads when it is the only access to the primary residence.
- Farm/fencing damage is not covered. Contact USDA.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance may be available for those residents who do not qualify for regular unemployment.
- Owners of rental property would be considered business owners and the residence would potentially qualify for a disaster loan from the Small Business Administration.
- This is an overwhelming process, but we are here to help. You can contact the Davison County Emergency Management office at 605-995-8640 and can find out what FEMA offers @ Figuring Out FEMA Brochure.
Residents should be encouraged to always prepare for flooding, by landscaping to allow water to run away from the home and enrolling in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). While this is normally required by financial institutions on homes with a mortgage, it is available to anyone. Actually, it is fairly cheap for someone to purchase who is not in the floodplain; and the insurance pays well. Several homes damaged in the 2019 and 2024 flooding were not in the floodplain. More information on NFIP can be found @ https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) uses their mapping/historical data/flooding expertise to put a flood insurance requirement on some homes after a disaster. Residents with this requirement will be notified by FEMA. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in denial of future claims.
Free Resources that can help you:
The local Salvation Army is a great first place to start. Their crew can assist you with immediate needs following a disaster, as well as referrals to counseling services for long term recovery. They can be found @ https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/mitchell/who-we-are/.
The American Red Cross can help you with immediate, short-term disaster assistance. They can be found @ https://www.redcross.org/local/dakotas.html.
Team Rubicon is an International non-profit disaster response organization of Veterans who can assist homeowners with debris removal, mold mitigation, and other disaster related capabilities free of charge. More information, as well as contacts, can be found @ Team Rubicon.
Christian Aid Ministries will provide Rapid Response Services and can assist homeowners with debris removal, mold mitigation, and other disaster related capabilities free of charge. More information, as well as contacts, can be found @ Christian Aid Ministries.