WASHINGTON - Federal disaster dollars will be available for parts of South Dakota damaged by flooding earlier this month, the White House said Tuesday.

The declaration will make federal funds available to supplement state and local recovery efforts.

"We received word from the White House … that South Dakota qualifies for federal aid. That means eligible people could receive financial assistance through Federal Emergency Management Agency grants and-or U.S. Small Business Administration loans," Gov. Mike Rounds said.

Eligible counties include Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Miner, Sanborn, Spink and Yankton. FEMA will make available $7 million for individual assistance for people in those counties, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday night.

The storms included some tornadoes and heavy rain. Brown County and Aberdeen were especially hard hit by flooding after getting an estimated 8-10 inches of rain.

According to the White House, assistance can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.

Rounds had ordered emergency state aid while waiting for the federal declaration. On May 14, Rounds had asked for the disaster declaration for homes and businesses for 12 counties. Aurora and Jerauld counties, which Rounds had on his list, were not part of the presidential disaster declaration.

"This assistance is welcome news to the hundreds of South Dakota families dealing with the aftermath of these destructive storms," Thune said in a release.

"After visiting this region, there was no question in my mind that assistance from FEMA was crucial to the cleanup, repair and recovery. My staff and I have been in constant contact with the administration expressing the need for federal assistance. I expect that this assistance will come quickly, so those that have already suffered so much can get the help they need."

On Saturday, the governor asked for a disaster declaration to repair public infrastructure.

Following is a statement from White House Press Secretary Dana Perino:

The president today declared a major disaster exists in the State of South Dakota and ordered federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on May 4, 2007, and continuing.

The president's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Miner, Sanborn, Spink, and Yankton.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

R. David Paulison, administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Justin A. Dombrowski as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are completed.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday thru Sunday.