City Makes Significant Progress On Flash Flooding Response
Published on June 23, 2024
The summer-like weather without additional rainfall is allowing City crews to make great progress in multiple areas of the response to the flash flooding event that started Friday in Sioux Falls. The Big Sioux River and Skunk Creek have crested in the Sioux Falls area, allowing water levels to also come down.
Crews have been able to reopen most arterial streets throughout the city including:
- 12th Street at La Mesa Avenue
- 41st Street at Louise Avenue
- 49th Street between Louise Avenue and Kiwanis Avenue
Crews will continue to open roads as it becomes safe to do so. The community of Sioux Falls is encouraged to check siouxfalls.gov/flood for up-to-date information on road closures as progress is made.
The amount of rain Sioux Falls received in such a short amount of time continues to stress the City’s storm drainage and wastewater collection and treatment systems, but they are beginning to slowly catch up. Pumps are still operating in areas needed to clear out the local storm drainage systems.
The wastewater collection and treatment system is trending in the right direction, so the City is no longer asking residents to conserve their wastewater usage. As of 11:30 am Sunday, pumps that were discharging untreated wastewater to the river have all been turned off.
“We appreciate the community’s willingness to do their part and conserve their wastewater usage the last 36 hours. The One Sioux Falls response has been amazing to experience and has made a difference,” said Mark Cotter, Director of Public Works. “Our wastewater collection and treatment systems remain strained, but they are back to a point where we believe it is manageable.”
Community members who are cleaning up water damage from this flash flooding event are asked to bring carpeting, furniture, or other items that need to be disposed of to the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill. The landfill is closed on Sundays but open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 am to 5 pm. Residents receive one free annual pass to the landfill to dispose of items for free.
Although the water is starting to recede in various parks that were closed because of the flash flooding, they will remain closed. This means the barricades should not be moved, and the parks are closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. It is not safe for people to be in the parks until our teams have had the opportunity to make an assessment of the damage. For those who choose to visit Falls Park, visitors should avoid the water, not climb on wet rocks, and follow posted safety signs at the park. The Caille Branch library will reopen Sunday at 1 p.m. after remaining closed Saturday due to flooding on 49th Street.
Flooding in certain areas of the community continues to create unsafe conditions. Residents are encouraged to continue to take precautions, including:
- Call 911 in the event of a life-threatening emergency.
- Call 211 for non-emergencies.
- Turn around if you experience water on the road.
- Respect road barricades. Do not drive around them, as they mark road and park closures.
- Keep a safe distance away from rushing water and follow posted safety signage.
The City of Sioux Falls issued an emergency declaration Saturday morning amid flash flooding across the region. An emergency declaration enables the City to rapidly acquire resources needed to support an emergency response. Partners from the City, State, and Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties continue to collaborate for this event’s response. Visit siouxfalls.gov/flood for ongoing updates on flood-related closures and resources.