For The Brookings Register
The weather last week shows us that you need to be proactive when it comes to the weather in South Dakota. I do not know who said it first, but I have always heard that if you don’t like …
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The weather last week shows us that you need to be proactive when it comes to the weather in South Dakota. I do not know who said it first, but I have always heard that if you don’t like weather in South Dakota wait a couple of hours and it will change.
The recent historic rainfall event re-emphasized the importance of a dense network of rainfall observations to supplement radar estimates and automated rain gauge readings. One of the most efficient ways for us to gather these rainfall (and snow in the winter) reports is through the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network program. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls is asking for help in enhancing this effort.
It's a network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, snow, and hail).
Rain and snow amounts can vary greatly from location to location. Human-observed rainfall measurements help enhance radar estimated rainfall and those provided by automated rain gauges. The more dense the network of precipitation measurements, the clearer the picture of what occurred. These finer details can be very important!
The weather service uses the data for both weather and especially river forecasting. CoCoRaHS data is also utilized by a variety of other users including emergency managers, city utilities (water supply and stormwater), insurance adjusters, USDA, engineers, and farmers/ranchers. In times of reduced rainfall, this data may be used for drought-related decisions.
Everyone is different and this discussion may sound odd, but hopefully it helps you become aware of our next “surprise” weather event.
Another topic that deals with precipitation is the issue of flooding that can and has occurred in the county in the past.
If you have lived in the same residence for 20 years or more, then some of this may not make sense until you realize that our record year of flooding was snowmelt in 1968-69. The majority of the roads in Brookings County were damaged during that period.
So, if your house didn’t flood in 1969, then it shouldn’t flood today. That is what some people think, at least. The only problem with that is that in the 55 years since that flooding event the county infrastructure has not remained the same as it was. Interstate 29, U.S. Highway 14, state Highway 13, state Highway 30 and state Highway 324, county and township roads have been rebuilt, often being raised in certain places and culverts installed in new locations, thereby changing the drainage pattern.
Change is continuing even today every time a road is rebuilt, and everyone knows that they are always working on the roads.
Brookings County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency within the Department of Homeland Security administers the NFIP through its Regional Offices and its Mitigation Division. The ten FEMA Regional Offices each have a Mitigation Division that coordinates the NFIP with states and communities.
The NFIP is an important program, especially for properties that are prone to flooding. If you use a federally backed loan to purchase a residence or construct a new residence that is in a floodplain area then flood insurance is required, not recommended but required. It is actually recommended that all residents purchase flood insurance but if the property is not in a floodplain, then most people do not spend the extra money to purchase it.
Unfortunately, a lot of residences that do experience flooding are not in the “official” floodplain and regular home insurance policies do not cover flooding damages.
The maps that were produced showing the floodplain details in 1969 do not reflect what the conditions are today. So, FEMA is in the process of updating the floodplain maps for Brookings County. There have been preliminary meetings on the subject and the final maps will be available shortly. I encourage you to attend future floodplain map update meetings when they are scheduled. I will use this column to keep you informed on the topic.
The weather will start changing on us soon. Now is the time to start preparing. South Dakota State University starts its fall semester later this month and that means there will be more traffic.
Remember, when a school bus has its red flashing lights on and the stop sign out, you must stop. It is also recommended that you leave a little earlier on school days so that if you are driving and pass children walking to school that you slow down.
There will also be more bicycles on the streets. Yes, I know that they should obey all traffic signals and signs, but I also have experienced the fact that some do not. Stay calm, and think about, do all cars fully stop at stop signs? Do all cars stop when the traffic signals turn red?
With the next season creeping up on us we will start writing about making plans and other assorted topics in the future.
That is all for this week, keep an eye on the sky and have a great week.
Bob the EM
