Red Cross shelter, assistance remains available

  • Published
  • Black Hills Area Chapter of American Red Cross
RAPID CITY, S.D. --  The Black Hills Area Chapter of the American Red Cross currently has two shelters in operation, one in Belle Fourche and one in Box Elder, to help support families displaced by area flooding.

Due to the immediate need for food and shelter, the Red Cross opened a shelter at Douglas Middle School, 401 Tower Rd. in Box Elder June 5 at 1 p.m. and the Salvation Army provided food. Overnight, the shelter housed 5 people and had 17 people register their contact information.

There is still standing water in a large portion of the area with water surrounding many homes.
"We have planned volunteer staffing through Sunday morning to support shelter operations, said Richard Smith, Black Hills Area Chapter of the American Red Cross executive director. "There is no estimated time in which we will close this shelter."

A short damage assessment of the area by volunteers stated that it appears about 50 home were impacted in the area. Many areas were not accessible at the time of the assessment.

The shelter at the Belle Fourche Community Center started with three overnight guests. At 4:30 a.m., an additional seven people arrived at the shelter due to new flooding from Hay Creek. This creek is continuing to rise and may do so throughout the day. The Belle Fourche community center is currently providing meals, and, at this time, no damage assessments have been conducted.

"We have planned staffing of the Belle Fourche shelter through today and will be working on extending this through Sunday," Mr. Smith said. "There is no estimated time in which we will close this shelter."


At this time the shelters in Box Elder and Belle Fourche are the only areas that we are actively working. As damage assessments continue, the process of evaluating the needs of all those impacted by this flooding will progress.

"Thanks to all of you who have helped make this response possible," Mr. Smith said. "Your hard work has made a difference in someone's life."

For more information about how to get help, donate or better prepare for disaster, please call (605) 342-4010, visit the Black Hills Area Chapter at 1221 N. Maple Ave., Rapid City, S.D. 57701, or log on to www.blackhillsredcross.org.