DISASTER DECLARED ON THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX INDIAN RESERVATION IN SOUTH
DAKOTA.

For Immediate Release:

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Incident Command System
For further information:
Joe Brings Plenty, Tribal Chairman (605) 964-4155
Leo Fischer, Tri-County/Mni Waste Water System (605) 365-6940
Natalie Stites, Public Information Officer, Incident Command System
(715) 896-0158, Natalie.stites@...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 28, 2010

DISASTER DECLARED ON THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX INDIAN RESERVATION IN SOUTH
DAKOTA.

Severe Ice Storms and Freezing Tempratures Have Knocked
Down 3,000 Utility Poles – Tribal Residents Have Been
Without Electricity, Heat and Running Water for Six Days.

Eagle Butte, South Dakota –
The Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has declared
a State of Emergency in central South Dakota,
an Indian reservation approximately the size of Connecticut
with nearly 15,000 Tribal members.
The Tribe is still awaiting Presidential disaster declaration.

Days of ice storms and strong winds have downed over
3,000 utility poles across the reservation.
Thousands of already impoverished tribal residents have
been without electricity or heat for five days, with
wind chill factors well below zero.
Experts estimate it may be as long as a month before
all areas have electricity restored.

"Making matters worse," said Tribal Chairman Joe Brings Plenty,
"the loss of electricity has also knocked out the Reservationʼs
aging water system.
We have no running water on the entire Reservation,
it is also affecting of Reservation communities such as Faith,
whose water is supplied from pipes running through the Reservation."

The Tribe is working hard to bring families in, out of the
cold and into shelters. The South Dakota National Guard,
The Stateʼs Department of Public Safety as well as the
Army Corps of Engineers have come to the reservation and
supplied some emergency generators.
The Tribe would especially like to thank Wal-Mart
for providing emergency food and supplies, and the Navajo Nation
for sending up a tribal utility crew to help with the
downed electrical lines.

However, much more assistance is still needed.
No one facility can host a shelter large enough for
all the Tribal residents; additional generators are needed
to set up additional shelters. The Tribeʼs one and only
grocery store has lost all of its perishables; additional
food is needed.
Also, dialysis patients have had to be evacuated to Rapid City.

Donations Needed:

MEDICAL NEEDS: Dialysis Patients/Glucose Strips/Financial
Support for Hotels

* The dialysis patients have all been evacuated three
hours away to Rapid City, SD.
They are staying in hotels for at least a week and half,
probably longer.
The Tribe is looking into reimbursement sources from CMS
and IHS, but in the interim financial contributions are
needed to help the families pay for their hotel expenses
and food.
An account has been set up at Wells Fargo to help with
these expenses.
You can contribute at any Wells Fargo or send to the Rapid City branch.
www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/...a62...


CONTRIBUTIONS:
Wells Fargo
Cheyenne Dialysis Patients (c/o Dew Bad Warrior)
Acct. #: 5815904338
1615 N 7th St.
Rapid City, SD 55701

* Medical Items Need on the Reservation itself (shipping address
below):
* Glucose Strips
* First Aid Kits
* Children's Tylenol
* Children's Cough Syrup

NEEDED SUPPLIES:
A big thank you to Wal-Mart for sending some initial
food and supplies!!
Additional items are needed, especially for the
communities whose electricity is expected to be down
for up to 30 days. Please forward to any
companies that manufacture these items that may
be of assistance.

* CONTRIBUTIONS: Can be made directly to the Tribe's
emergency fund listed below.
* IN KIND: Or if you prefer to make in-kind donations:

* Non-perishable food
* Cots
* Heat sources (heaters & fuel)
* Camp stoves & fuel
* Light sources:
* Lithium 1, 2 and 3 batteries for law enforcement
* Lamps/Batteries/Lamp Oil
* Toiletries
* Toilet paper
* Paper products for the shelters
* Pampers/formula
* Hand/baby wipes/Hand sanitizer

FINANCIAL DONATIONS:
The Tribe has depleted its emergency budget with
the two blizzards that already hit the reservation since December.
It needs funds to help buy food and supplies for the community
and volunteers, to pay for gas and overtime for the workers,
to replace the motor at the water pump station that was
destroyed, etc.
Any financial donations are much appreciated.
The Tribe is also trying to set up on-line donations but
that may take some time.

WIRE DONATIONS TO:
Cheyenne River Sioux 2010 Disaster Account
Direct to: United Bkrs Bloomington ABA # 091 001 322
Beneficiary Bank: Account Number 250 3373
State Bank of Eagle Butte
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Final Credit: Account Holder @ UBB Customers Bank
Account Holder: CRST 2010 Disaster, Account Number 103173

MAIL CHECK DONATIONS TO:
TO: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe/2010 Disaster Account
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman's Office
Attn: Ice Storm Emergency Fund
PO Box 590
2001 Main Street (Tribal Offices)
Eagle Butte, SD 57625

SHIP SUPPLIES TO:
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman's Office
Attn: Ice Storm Emergency Supplies
PO Box 590
2001 Main Street (Tribal Offices)
Eagle Butte, SD 57625

CHEYNNNE RIVER SIOUX CONTACTS:
Robin Le Beau, Chairman's Assistant c (610) 568-2101
Joe Brings Plenty, Tribal Chairman c (605) 365-6548
CRST Emergency Coordination Center (605) 964-7711 (7712)