PIERRE, SD (KELO-AM Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) has declared a state of emergency in Southeastern South Dakota to help fight back from the big storm.
Daugaard has opened the State Emergency Operations Center to respond to severe flooding caused by Monday's torrential rains.
Daugaard's Chief of Staff, Dusty Jonson, says some state resources are already being used. Two 50-man crews of state prisoners from Yankton and Sioux Falls are being deployed to help with the big mess. And he says that some state-supplied sump pumps are already on the job.
Heavy rainfall across much of southeast South Dakota closed roads, flooded streets and fields in several counties and greatly increased flows in the southern reach of the Big Sioux River.
Representatives of key response agencies in the EOC will work with local and federal officials to monitor conditions and coordinate appropriate levels of response.
The Governor also mobilized an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) in preparation for sending them to the storm-impacted area to assist local officials with their response.
Governor Daugaard on Tuesday toured some of the flood damage in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties.