Gov. Daugaard Warns of Spring Flooding
Air Date:03/03/2011
By Jenifer Jones
Governor Denis Daugaard says the latest projections from the National Weather Service show parts of South Dakota will see record flooding this spring. He says communities in the Big Sioux River and James River basins will likely experience flooding later this month and in early April. Daugaard says its important that individuals in affected areas such as Watertown, Brookings and Sioux Falls purchase flood insurance, make sure sump pumps are working, move valuables out of lower levels and find a location to move to in case of an emergency. He says state government is preparing its resources as well.
"Sandbags, water pumps, generators, boat, heavy equipment, so that when equipment or sandbags are needed they are on site. We'll be sandbagging some heavily threaded highways in advance of the flood to prepare them," Daugaard says.
Daugaard says he's considering asking the federal government to make an advanced emergency declaration, so that federal government can deploy assets such as a helicopter to needed areas.
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