BROOKINGS – Predictions for flooding in Brookings County this weekend are easing, but county officials are still preparing for floods.
Part of the reason for eased expectations is that temperatures are still going into a freeze and thaw cycle.
“The big prediction is the Big Sioux River just south of town, and there, they’re predicting that it’s going to start going down as of now until Sunday night, Monday morning. Then, it’s going to start increasing again,” Brookings County Development Department Director and Emergency Manager Bob Hill said.
They expect the Big Sioux River to crest around March 30, potentially as high as 13.9 feet.
One of the issues that’s complicated predictions is that further north – such as around Aberdeen, for example – winter is still holding on, and they haven’t had as much thawing.
While that’s to this area’s advantage at the moment, “that does probably mean we’ll probably get a second crest later in the spring.”
Hill added that they’ve continued to monitor Six Mile Creek. The creek has crept into the apple orchard near Sexauer Park and Campground, with water levels receding somewhat overnight and returning during the day.
So far, Six Mile Creek hasn’t presented major problems in Brookings, but Hill said they have identified up to 100 residences and mobile homes that might be impacted by further flooding. He said they have the American Red Cross on standby just in case, and they may open a shelter at a church if it is needed.
The National Weather Service has predicted slight chances of rain this weekend – 40 percent chance of rain Saturday night and 20 percent on Sunday – but Hill said whatever rainfall comes shouldn’t have much of an impact on flood projections.
“They just don’t think this event is going to be enough to cause any major fluctuations,” Hill said. If anything, he said there’s more concern about possible rainfall later next week.
Hill again warned people that if their homes have experienced floods in the past, they can likely expect to see some flooding again. He also warned against driving around country roads to look at any flooding or driving around any road barriers, even if they’re homemade.
“Even if the sign’s not a professional sign, that road very well could be missing a culvert or something, and if you run into a road that’s missing a culvert, you could end up in the middle of a farmer’s field,” Hill said. “It’s best not to go around it. We will need people to stop just driving around the townships looking at the flooding. The farmers and people who live out in the townships are having enough of a hard time as it is. They don’t need people gawking at them and damaging the roads at the same time.”
Sand for filling sandbags is still available to the public at the Swiftel Center parking lot. People must provide their own sandbags at this time and shovels. Anyone with further questions can call 211 or contact Hill’s office at 605-692-5212.
The city of Bruce has sand available for the public as well, located at the Martin Oil building along Washington Street. Fire Chief Richard Stokes said he has sandbags available for those in the Bruce area, and anyone in need of them can contact him at 605-651-3873.
Bruce will host a sandbagging event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today, March 23. Volunteers will assist members of the public who come to have their sandbags filled, as well as transport the sandbags and help set them up if need be.
Those with further questions regarding the Bruce event can call Stokes at 605-651-3873.
Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.
