Gov. Mike Rounds is requesting a presidential disaster declaration for public assistance in the counties most impacted by the Nov. 5-7 snow storm. The request is necessary for federal disaster funds to be made available to South Dakota.

A preliminary damage assessment done by the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local officials shows the storm caused nearly $5 million in emergency protective costs and damages to public infrastructure in Bennett, Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Haakon, Jackson, Meade, Mellette, Perkins, Shannon, Todd and Ziebach counties. The disaster declaration seeks to include portions of the Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock reservations that fall within those counties.

Additionally, Butte and Perkins counties experienced record or near-record snowfall, indicating they may be eligible for snow-removal assistance from FEMA.

Pennington County did not qualify because it did not have the minimum $280,000 to $290,000 in damages.

If the president agrees to the declaration, as much as 75 percent of the eligible costs could be reimbursed by the federal government.

This request does not guarantee federal funding will be made available in South Dakota.

There is no deadline for the White House to endorse or deny the declaration request.