Cheyenne River tribe without power since Jan 22nd

Okay, how does this work? I mean how do they let Obama know so he can declare it a disaster area? Seems it would have to come from the locals, county, state, then Fed right?

I'm not sure. I know FEMA has to get in there at some point, but because it is a reservation, I am not actually sure what needs to happen first. That whole weird sovereign dependent nation thing...