Gradual melting and minimal precipitation would lessen problems, but the latest projections show an 89 percent chance of major flooding along the James River at Huron, state officials say.

“You’re in one of the hot spot areas,” Gov. Mike Rounds said as he and other public safety officials met Friday morning with city, county and township representatives from Beadle County.

Meetings with local officials as spring approaches are giving state officials an idea of the needs and concerns in towns, townships and countywide.

The state is poised to respond around the state on a priority basis.

“We know you know what’s coming,” said Kristi Turman, director of the state Office of Emergency Management. “We know you’re working to prepare already.”

When threats occur along the state’s waterways, the first priority is the safety of the public, and to evacuate people and get them to dry locations if necessary. Protection of infrastructure is next.

The latest numbers paint a picture that has been developing since last fall’s heavy rains and the series of blizzards that dumped significant snow and created monster drifts beginning Christmas weekend.

From October through February, much of the state received 150 to 300 percent of normal precipitation, Turman said. Some areas in eastern South Dakota received 10 to 12 inches of rain in September and October.

A wet fall saturated the ground, and soil moisture increased another one to two inches between October and March. The snow pack is 10 to 20 inches in most of the state, and is 20 to 30 inches in the north central and northeast regions.

Water content in the snow pack is generally two to five inches, and four to six inches in the north central and northeast, Turman said.

“There’s a lot of moisture sitting out there,” she said.

But records have been set this winter in terms of river levels.

“This is why we’re so concerned about significant flooding,” Turman said.

Beadle County Emergency Management Director Tom Moeding said specific areas he is concerned about as spring approaches and the snow pack continues to melt include the north shore of Lake Byron, especially with wave action caused by south winds, and Memorial Park in Huron.

Lift stations at Yale and Cavour should be in good shape, and officials will monitor any problems with ice jams under bridges along the James River.

Sand bags will be pre-positioned at Lake Byron if the need arises, and the city will likely extend the Memorial Park dike with sand bags.

Township residents are being asked to keep an eye on possible ice jams at township bridges. Beadle County Highway Superintendent Jerry Batien urged people not to try to remedy ice problems themselves, but to contact the highway department. Some of the bridges are in poor condition.

Mayor David McGirr said the city will probably need help filling sand bags. Youth organizations and inmates may be two sources of labor.

In answer to a question here and at another local meeting, Rounds said the state will make “road closed” signs available to townships.

If major flooding occurs, township and county officials need to keep track of their time and expenses because that information would be included in a request for a presidential disaster declaration.

“Document everything you do,” Moeding said.

If roads, especially well-traveled ones, are closed the Huron police dispatch center should be notified so that emergency responders are made aware of the situation.

Rounds said the state is looking at options to get ice off the rivers to mitigate the loss.

For the complete article see the 03-06-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 03-06-2010 paper.