(Rightallegiance.com) – When floodwaters surged through Shelly Lewis’s lakefront home in McCook Lake, South Dakota, last June, she had mere moments to act. Grabbing her cat and a hastily packed bag, she fled as the rising waters consumed her neighborhood. By nightfall, her home had collapsed into a heap of debris, its remnants strewn across the lake.
For Lewis and her neighbors, the devastation sparked a desperate hope that their governor would swiftly come to their aid. They anticipated that Governor Kristi Noem would request federal disaster assistance and deploy the state’s National Guard to manage the overwhelming recovery efforts.
Instead, they were met with a stark reality. Noem, then positioning herself as a key ally to former President Donald Trump, prioritized a high-profile deployment of the South Dakota National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, supporting Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s anti-immigration campaign. She delayed seeking federal disaster funds, citing cost concerns, and dismissed the idea of deploying state troops to assist the flood victims.
“She was not here for us,” Lewis lamented. Once a staunch supporter of Noem, she now feels abandoned. “This is my home. You ignored your state.”
As backlash mounted from McCook Lake residents, many criticized Noem’s actions as politically motivated, aligning more with her ambitions in Trump’s orbit than with the needs of her constituents. Her decision not to utilize the National Guard left some residents feeling betrayed, especially given her earlier boasts of being the first governor to send troops to the southern border.
For Noem, whose name is now linked to leading the Department of Homeland Security in a potential second Trump administration, the incident highlights a controversial leadership style that intertwines local governance with national political ambitions.
The flooding in McCook Lake, which destroyed or severely damaged numerous homes, came with little warning. Hours before the waters engulfed the community, Noem had held a press conference urging residents to stay cautious. However, she left the state shortly after for a GOP fundraiser in Tennessee, leaving local officials and residents to manage the chaos.
Morgan Speichinger, another resident, recalled the scramble to evacuate with her family. Her Ring camera captured the water inundating her property within minutes. “It’s frustrating that she can use our state funding for the National Guard, but not to help the actual people that live here,” said Speichinger.
Noem cited financial constraints as one reason for not deploying the National Guard. Yet, critics pointed to the $2.7 million spent on border deployments, partly funded by state taxpayers. Neighboring Iowa’s governor, by contrast, mobilized their Guard and secured federal disaster aid while floodwaters still lingered.
Noem’s approach to governance has not only strained relationships with flood victims but also with South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes. She faced sharp rebukes after alleging that Mexican drug cartels were operating on tribal lands and accusing some tribal leaders of collaborating with them. Tribal leaders banned her from entering their territories, condemning her remarks as unfounded and harmful.
“She’s not welcome here,” said Boyd Gourneau, chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. He characterized Noem’s comments as a tactic to boost her national profile at the expense of South Dakota’s Indigenous communities.
As the prospective head of Homeland Security, Noem would oversee border security and immigration enforcement—issues that resonate deeply with South Dakota’s agricultural sector. Farmers like Greg Moes rely heavily on immigrant labor, often undocumented, to keep their operations running. “If undocumented workers are deported en masse, the food supply will dry up real fast,” Moes warned.
This tension between hardline immigration policies and economic realities illustrates the delicate balance Noem must navigate if confirmed for the DHS role. Critics question her ability to reconcile the demands of a national deportation strategy with the needs of businesses that depend on immigrant labor.
For residents of McCook Lake and beyond, Noem’s leadership during crises has sown doubt about her ability to manage federal disaster responses. Renae Hansen, an environmental advocate and community leader, urged others to prepare for self-reliance in emergencies. “Our city failed us, our county failed us, and our state failed us,” Hansen said. “They better make a plan for themselves.”
As Noem steps onto the national stage, her record in South Dakota offers both a warning and a question: Can a leader focused on advancing political ambitions effectively manage the vast responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security?
It is not difficult for farm workers to enter the country legally. However when entrance is clogged by illegal hoards it makes it difficult.