STURGIS, S.D. — Heavy rains this month had resulted in enough damage that the Meade County Commission has decided to declare a disaster.
Highway superintendent Troy Eastman told commissioners this week that Meade County’s highway system received significant damage during flooding events May 11 through the 14th.
He says more than 90 locations and roadways had been identified with damage; mostly in the eastern part of the county.
Eastman estimates there is well over half-a-million dollars in damages. Emergency Relief Program grants will require a $700,000 minimum damage estimate.
Declaring a disaster in the county allows Eastman to apply for as many grant opportunities as possible in hopes of offsetting the cost of repairs. Eastman said repairs that the county can do in-house will be much less expensive than those that will require hiring contractors.
