Mainstream Media Ignoring URGENT Needs

While the mainstream media and Hollywood bombard us with well founded pleas for donations to help the earthquake victims in Haiti what should be another major news story involving American citizens is being overshadowed in a tremendous way.

*The following information was emailed to me by the Tribal Command Center February 4, 2010

Our reservation is 2.8 million acres, roughly the size of Connecticut, and faces an eighty percent unemployment rate with 15,000 Tribal Members. According to the last Census, this reservation is home to the poorest county in the United States.

On Christmas Day, a blizzard hit our reservation and provoked a crisis that placed our people in life-threatening conditions, with some extraordinary snow drifts that reached thirty (30) feet high. Moreover, this storm knocked down 500 power poles on the reservation.

Without an opportunity to recover from the holiday storms that continued through January 10, 2010, we were hit with an ice storm lasting 5 days that began on January 21, 2010. Immediately, the Tribe mobilized its emergency operations due to this ice storm that crippled our already-weak electrical and water infrastructure. As we only have eleven (11) police officers to cover the Reservation, a curfew was implemented to ensure the safety of our Tribal members.

Though I immediately declared an emergency, we continue to await a declaration from the President and a disaster declaration from the Governor. Our Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assessment is scheduled for next week, which I understand is the first step towards gaining a declaration from the President. Since first responding to this emergency and disaster, my tribal government has worked tirelessly with the Indian Health Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and state emergency management consultants to address the life-threatening conditions facing my people, including homes without power and water for days at a time. Several communities remain without water or power, and we have incurred astronomical costs for my Tribe.

In this storm we lost:

* 3000 power poles: Some of the residents in our outlying communities, including ranchers whom compose a significant section of our small tax base, lost power on January 20th and will be among the last to get their electricity restored. Our latest project for total power restoration reservation wide is three (3) more weeks leaving 1,700 homes currently without power. This places a huge threat on our people’s basic human needs of water, food, heat and fuel. Additionally we have 25,000 head of cattle and 4,000 head of horses on our reservation that were without water as well. Generators have been used to replace the failed power system; however, these generators have now been running for 24 hours a day for 10 days. Generally, generators are only meant to run for eight (8) hours a day so we will be looking at huge problem very shortly with generators burning out and needing to replace those generators. Due to the power outage, we have households using propane stove tops for warmth. So far, we have had three (3) reported cases of carbon monoxide poisoning and are doing our best to address this health hazard. Without power, communications have been a challenge as well. Additionally, our service providers here such as the grocery store, lost all of their produce and were forced to operate in the dark, meeting people at the door with a flashlight for a list of their needs, go get them and could only accept cash. Our commercial lines of trade were disrupted for the first days of this emergency and disaster, and food supply has been a huge challenge for us, especially after food perished due to the electrical outage.

* We have been without water reservation wide for nine (9) days today and have been doing our best to get water delivered throughout this vast acreage of the Reservation. We have had to make sure our members have the bare essential water quantity to drink and attempt to keep sanitation issues at a minimum. Many of our members are boiling snow, breaking open dams and using the frozen river as a water source. Also, as I mentioned above, this places a huge strain on the livestock population and our ranchers to try and keep their animals alive. Once water is restored, we will have to go through a testing process to ensure it is safe to drink which leaves them without water until power is restored in approximately three (3) weeks.

* Food and shelter has been a huge need throughout and we are under-staffed to offer these services through temporary (though extended) emergency shelters. Many Tribal members lost all of their perishable food in their houses and local stores lost all of their fresh produce as well as anything frozen. This weekend alone we will need 7,500 meals for those still in the shelters and without water and electricity. Yet, we are struggling for the resources to meet the food needs of our many Reservation residents. We have also had several looting incidents that have caused fear among residents and therefore, some residents are refusing to leave their homes though they are advised to do so due to the lack of electricity or running water.

* We initially had no access to our fuel tanks because of the power outage and literally had a tribal employee standing in sub-zero temperatures next to one fuel truck to get basic fuel needs met for vehicles, plows, trucks, generators and loaders. The lack of fuel also put a strain on our utility and water companies that has impeded restoration.

* Due to the failure of the electrical system, we immediately transported forty (40) tribal dialysis patients to the surrounding cities for care, putting them up in a hotel and providing them with their basic necessities. These patients, many elderly, were transported in a raging blizzard that followed the ice storm because waiting any longer would have jeopardized their very lives. They are unable to return to the Reservation until the Indian Health Service unit is able to substantiate that all water is safe for use in the dialysis machines. Another issue that is both costly and difficult to address has been being able to provide a balanced meal to these individuals who require a very closely monitored diet. The food that has been donated to them so far has not been within their dietary guidelines and has left our Tribal members with additional health challenges to be addressed by our health staffs that are already taxed emotionally and physically.

UPDATE 02/03/10 Bad news from Wakpa Sica. The situation is about to get even worse. Another snow and ice storm is predicted for that area starting Friday 02/05/10. Residents are very concerned, especially the elders. It is imperative that we help to get some badly needed supplies to them before the next storm hits.

UPDATE 02/06/10 According to the Red Cross as of Thursday much progress was being made to restore water and electricity. Unfortunately more severe weather was predicted for the area this weekend. Due to the lack of media coverage we probably will not be able to get any updated information until Monday at the earliest.

UPDATE 02/08/10 Reports indicate that the latest winter storm did have a negative impact on the progress that had been made. Water service had been restored for many but unfortunately, once again power outages were an issue and there were reports of broken water pipes.

Non-Profit Organizations

Many compassionate people and companies donate to charities. We typically seem to trust those that have well known and familiar names without ever researching the organizations.

A new 501(C)3 organization recently came to my attention. They quickly earned my trust and respect because the work they do is extremely impressive and in my opinion their work, ideas and compassion rises above and beyond all others. Getting supplies donated and delivered to the disaster area is not enough, the Can-Do organization makes sure the supplies donated through their organization are delivered to the people who need them rather than being left sitting at a donation collection point for days or weeks. One of the hardest working people within the Can-Do organization is the founder and CEO, Eric Klein. You might remember him as a contestant on Oprah's "Big Give" reality show.

Can-Do's work goes beyond the typical scope of emergency supplies and disaster relief. They also finds ways to bring communities together and give people the tools they need to help themselves and their neighbors. I believe Can-Do.org is based on genuine concern and compassion rather than a desire to draw an enormous paycheck from funds that have been donated to help those in need.

The disaster in Haiti has overshadowed the disaster in South Dakota and the needs of our own people in such a tremendous way. The situation is still quite critical and some of the reasons why are obvious. Please watch this video. It is very disturbing.

(NGO) any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local, national or international level.

You can learn more about Can-Do at Can-Do.org - A Compassionate Organization offering AID and Relief or at this Youtube channel (please click on View All)

Our Native American neighbors need our help .... Please donate

Water

Non perishable food items

Cereal

Baby food and formula

Distilled water is needed for babies

Diapers

Baby Wipes

Tylenol Motrin for children

Glucose test strips for diabetics

First aid items

Candles

Matches

Flashlights

Batteries

Oil Lamps, oil and wicks

Duct tape

Trash bags

Blankets

Sheets

Cots

Sleeping bags

Toiletries, soap, toothpaste....

Towels and wash cloths

Toilet paper

Hand sanitizer

Paper plates and napkins

Plastic forks and spoons

Paper towels

Clorox wipes

Toys, games, puzzles and coloring books

Disaster Declared On The Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation In South Dakota: Help Needed

Disaster declared on Cheyenne R Sioux Reservation: Aid urgently needed - Examiner.com 02/02/10

Disaster Declared On The Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation In South Dakota

posted Saturday, January 30, 2010

Storm Recovery Continues

Basic necessities needed as utilities remain out in some rural areas