Undated (KELO-AM) Governor Dennis Daugaard (D) has activated the South Dakota National Guard to help with the flood fight in Southeastern South Dakota.
Guard Spokesman Major Anthony Deiss says 120 soldiers will be deployed to rising Big Sioux River in Union County with dump trucks and support equipment to assist with levee construction. Major Deiss says the soldiers are also ready to help, if needed, with sandbagging and flood rescue.
Governor Daugaard, at a news conference in Elk Point on Wednesday, told reporters that Interstate 29 near North Sioux City could be closed as early as Thursday afternoon to help in the flood fight. Daugaard says the underpass will be essentially plugged so all four lanes can act as part of the levee holding back the Big Sioux.
The Big Sioux is expected to hit a record crest of 110 feet in the coming days. Daugaard says the challenge now is that all the flooding from Lincoln County is moving into Union County down the river.
Union County has set up a website to get the latest local info on the situation: www.unioncountysd.org/2011-flooding-2
There will be a public meeting Wednesday evening at 630pm at Dakota Valley High School. Officials will have maps and other information available on where the worst flooding may occur.