November 2008 SD State of Emergency

From Gina Boltz, Native Village Director and Secretary of the Link Center Foundation, a 501 (c3) Non-Profit Association:

* To apply for emergency heating funds for Lakota elders, visit: LCF Heating Assistance Application Form

* To make a donation in any amount, large or small, visit LCF HOME and click on the Network for Good Badge, or visit www.linkcenterfoundation.org to donate or to learn more.

November, 2008: South Dakota Declared State of Emergency
Emergency Press Release
from Tamra Brennan

Blizzard and Reservation updates available at: www.NDNnews.com

Photo thanks to Nimchira, Web of Life Enterprises. www.wole.org

Hello everyone,

On Wednesday afternoon [Nov 5, 2008], areas of Western South Dakota were slammed with a major blizzard that lasted thru Thursday. The storm left thousands of people stranded and without power and heating. Winds were clocked at 105 miles per hour in some areas and remained at 60-80 mph throughout the 24 hour period. Areas of the Black Hills had snow drifts of over 20 feet in some areas. Record amounts of snowfall for one day, fell in the Hills. Temperatures with the wind chill were just above zero.

Many of the rez's were also hit hard including Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Cheyenne River and no word about Standing Rock, or others further east as of yet. There are still hundreds of people on the rezs without power and heating and many roads still un-plowed.

The frustrating part is, the media gave us no warnings in the days prior, about this blizzard. They kept referring to 2-3 inches of snow on Thursday, nothing about a blizzard until it was already upon us and to late. This left people completely unprepared for what was to come. With the proper warning, folks could have gotten out of the countryside and into town until it was over.

My power was out for almost three days, my house was 45 degrees. Luckily enough in my case, power was restored this morning. However, there are elders and folks with small children on the rez's that endured this cold and still are. Some elderly that are on oxygen and/or dialysis, were having to go without because of no power and no way to travel.

Over the past few days, I have been communicating with my dear friend Stephanie Schwartz from Link Center Foundation, She has been working non-stop getting help for the rez's, contacting every agency possible for assistance. Governor Rounds declared South Dakota a state of emergency, so things are finally moving forward with assistance.

There is going to be a urgent need for heating assistance on the rez's this year! This is just the beginning of what is ahead for this winter, its still technically fall and we have just been hit with one of the worst storms in years.

If you are able to assist in anyway no matter how small, please consider making a donation to Link Center Foundation for their heating assistance program. Their website is www.linkcenterfoundation.org .

There is also a section on my website www.NDNnews.com for our Helping the ReZ program, two years ago I initiated a ink cartridge recycling program, which the proceeds all go directly to LCF for heating assistance. Please take a look at that page on my website, for further details on how to participate in that project. It does not cost you a dime, just your time to collect the ink cartridges. It is a great and easy opportunity to be able to assist.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself (Tamra Brennan) at Tamra@NDNnews.com, or Stephanie Schwartz at SilvrDrach@aol.com, or Gina Boltz at NativeVillage500@aol.com