wfn.org | UCC - Help for Native American communities hit by South Dakota ice storm

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Help for Native American communities hit by South Dakota ice storm

> United Church of Christ
> Written by Staff Reports
> February 23, 2010

Responding to a severe ice storm that blanketed sections of the
Midwest in late January, the UCC's Dakota Association of the South
Dakota Conference and One Great Hour of Sharing special Emergency USA
fund have provided $8,000 in direct aid to the remote communities of
the Cheyenne River Lakota Reservation in South Dakota.

It is estimated that the January 22 storm left 12,000 people without
electricity. The Reservation's water treatment facilities were damaged
when, due to the loss of power, water removal pumps failed. Though now
operational, this malfunction necessitated a 10-day waiting period on
the use of potable water supplies and the need for fresh water distribution.

A full report on the damages and relief effort, provided by Pastor
Louis Blue Coat, has been posted to the UCC's Disaster Ministries site
and includes a link to donate to the Emergency USA fund.