Flooding threatens low lying Ft. Pierre/Pierre homes and property (Sioux Falls: tornado, live in)
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Governor Daugaard is asking that people who do not live or are not involved in volunteer efforts to help in Dakota Dunes to stay out of the area as they are impeding flood preparations.
I was in Pierre for most of the day. Fort Pierre is going to take it in the shorts. The water table is rising, I pumped out a basement already. Have a feeling that will happen in the morning. From Sioux Avenue south what the river doesn't reach from the surface will come up through the ground. Main street was sandbagged. Was interesting thinking that the store I used to owned might face a fear of flooding. I think in all my years downtown I never considered flood insurance.
If the dikes do their job great. I can see a potential for failure though. I am thinking if the 1434 elevation holds true they will be fine. Most of Pierre will be fine. Fort Pierre wont fare as well.
This is my opinion and I am not sure how accurate my predictions will be. It is amazing to see the community pull together, it shows the best in human nature. But it also can bring out the bad. Somewhat a flight of flight response.
SD4020, I agree with your assessment. The projected flood maps do not look good for any part of Ft. Pierre East of 83 Hwy.
The sandbagging efforts have been phenomenal. The Capitol Journal is reporting that 1.7 million have already been filled with another 900,000 being delivered and 6,000 tons more of sand on order.
Updated flood photos Pierre/Ft. Pierre here:
Flooding photos from May 31, 2011 - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/capitaljournal/sets/72157626731211153/ - broken link)
As the basements fill up the sewers back up. Folks need to take precautions as with the flooding bacteria is released into the river and flood waters. There was a previous recommendation that those who need to leave their houses should place a sandbag over their floor drains to try to stop water from coming up their drains into their homes. They also need to call to have their utilities shut off.
The Pierre Chamber of Commerce has established the Oahe Relief Fund at BankWest in Pierre after receiving calls from people wanting to assist those affected by Missouri River flooding.
Laura Schoen Carbonneau, CEO of the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, said that contributions to the fund can be made at any BankWest locations throughout South Dakota.
Carbonneau said that when flooding is over, a local task force would be assembled to determine how to use the funds.
There are no BankWest locations in Sioux Falls. The address of the main branch in Pierre is BankWest Main Office-Pierre, 420 S. Pierre Street, Box 998, Pierre, SD 57501.
Former Sioux City resident here, now in Seattle. Have family in Dakota Dunes and Yankton. My parents are evacuating the Dunes. No flood insurance as they are not in the 100 year flood plain. Very sad and they are distraught. I am just trying to keep them calm from 2000 miles away. Ugh. Prayers for all who are affected. It's a big bummer. I have seen some bad flooding in my native Iowa days in Iowa City, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids but this may be of epic proportions.
SD - video showing people, helping people, trucks, bull dozers, front end loaders, volunteers froma ll over the state helping move belongings, etc.
Mass - video showing tornado distruction of a single tornado. Not one portion of the video showed anybody looking through debree, helping clean up..... Nobody. But it did show the Governor that was saying how devastating it was and that he had declared a "State of Emergency."
SD - video showing people, helping people, trucks, bull dozers, front end loaders, volunteers froma ll over the state helping move belongings, etc.
Mass - video showing tornado distruction of a single tornado. Not one portion of the video showed anybody looking through debree, helping clean up..... Nobody. But it did show the Governor that was saying how devastating it was and that he had declared a "State of Emergency."
Ft. Pierre/Pierre Mayors call for voluntary water restrictions
Breaking News : Mayors call for voluntary water restrictions - Capital Journal Pierre, SD newspaper since 1881 (http://capjournal.com/articles/2011/06/02/breaking_news/doc4de7e68c2ae5d292622549.txt - broken link)
Quote:
Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill and Fort Pierre Mayor Sam Tidball have asked residents in both communities to limit water usage on a necessary basis and refrain from activities that use a lot of water, such as watering the lawn and washing vehicles.
The voluntary restriction is to avoid unnecessary strain on the storm sewer system as water levels continue to rise from high releases out of the Oahe Dam, they said.
Levees near completion, water release fro Oahe due to be increased today (Friday June 3rd)
http://capjournal.com/articles/2011/06/02/breaking_news/doc4de7e11a7d03e493455503.txt (broken link)
Quote:
Published/Last Modified on Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 - 02:38:08 pm CDT
PIERRE—Gov. Dennis Daugaard said levee construction is expected to finish this evening, hours before releases begin a five-day stint of increases.
He said the levee structures in Pierre and Fort Pierre are at or nearing the 1,436-foot elevation and will be ready when flows are scheduled to increase to 100,000 cfs Friday.
Releases will hit a maximum rate of 150,000 cfs Tuesday and are expected to stay there until mid-July, depending on the mountain snow melt and precipitation.
Friday the Army Corps of Engineers will step up the release by 15,000 CFS, half at 8:00 a.m. and half at 4:00 p.m.
Daugaard says some areas of the levees along the Missouri in Pierre and Fort Pierre are ready for the maximum increase of 150,000 CFS, but right now the goal is to be able to handle the levels at 120,000 CFS.
The flow farther downstream at Gavins Point Dam will be maintained at 85,000 CFS until tomorrow when it will increase.
Last edited by lifelongMOgal; 06-03-2011 at 06:01 AM..
Reason: link added
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Oahe Flood Relief Fund- another way to help
