Record snow and wind May 1 and 2 caused ice to build up to a foot thick on electrical lines in Harding County. The resulting damage to a system serving more than 1,000 customers soared into the millions.

On Monday, the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced more than $6.8 million has been awarded to Grand Electric Cooperative for repairs.

"It is critical that we support assistance to rural communities in their efforts to recover from the May storms so that South Dakotans have utilities and important infrastructure before the colder weather moves in," FEMA Region 8 administrator Garry Briese said in a release.

Grand Electric Cooperative serves 1,800 members in six counties in South Dakota and one in Montana. This grant covers the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged or destroyed elements of the electrical system in Harding County only.

Additional funds will be made available to Grand Electric for damages caused by the May storm in two other counties in South Dakota and for the damage in Carter County in Montana.

Electrical service was restored to all residential customers by May 16.