The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota has exhausted its emergency fund and is trying to raise money to help hundreds of families affected by a severe winter storm.

Power has been out across most of the reservation since last Friday. The system that supplies water to 14,000 people failed when the power went out.

The tribe had $175,000 in its emergency fund but the money already ran out. Wire donations can be made to:

Cheyenne River Sioux 2010 Disaster Account
Direct to: United Bkrs Bloomington ABA # 091 001 322
Beneficiary Bank: Account Number 250 3373
State Bank of Eagle Butte
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Final Credit: Account Holder @ UBB Customers Bank
Account Holder: CRST 2010 Disaster, Account Number 103173

Checks can be mailed to:

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe/2010 Disaster Account
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman’s Office
Attn: Ice Storm Emergency Fund
PO Box 590
2001 Main Street (Tribal Offices)
Eagle Butte, SD 57625

Primary contacts for the tribe:

Robin Le Beau, Chairman’s Assistant (610) 568-2101
Joe Brings Plenty, Tribal Chairman (605) 365-6548
CRST Emergency Coordination Center (605) 964-7711 (7712)

Get the Story:
Storm Takes Steep Toll on Destitute Tribe (The Wall Street Journal 1/27)
Water System Old (KOTA 1/26)

Related Stories:
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe out of water after storm (1/27)
Power restored to Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (1/27)
Oglala Sioux Tribe blames fatal collision on icy roads (1/27)
Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation battered by storm (1/26)