Governor activates Guard for firewood mission to Rosebud Reservation

Members of the South Dakota National Guard are hauling available firewood from the Black Hills National Forest to the Rosebud Reservation, pursuant to an executive order from Gov. Kristi Noem declaring an emergency related to ongoing winter storms in the state.

The Noem administration announced the order Thursday night in a news release.

“My administration has been assisting county and tribal governments in the local response to the ongoing winter storms across the state,” Noem said in the release. “Under the direction of the Office of Emergency Management, we will continue to help all of South Dakota’s communities get through these storms, together.”

The release said additional National Guard missions may be necessary as coordination between tribal and local governments and State Emergency Management continues.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe has reported extreme difficulty clearing roads and getting propane to homes for heat. The Noem administration issued a news release Tuesday listing efforts by the state to assist.