WOONSOCKET, S.D. -- State and local officials hurriedly gathered in this small, southeastern South Dakota town today to battle a surge of water said to be coming from an overflowing creek and various ditches.
Gov. Mike Rounds came to assess the situation Wednesday night, and National Guard soldiers and state prison inmates were brought in to build sandbag walls. A lengthy meeting of state and local officials occurred Thursday afternoon, and it was decided to cut a few inches off the top of a road just north of Woonsocket to alleviate some of the flooding.
The possibility of cutting through the road completely and replacing it with a National Guard bridge was discussed and will be considered again Friday.
The problem has been roughly traced to 4.3 inches of rain that fell on the Wessington Springs area, to the west of Woonsocket, Monday night. That rain swelled Sand Creek, which runs north of Woonsocket, and water from the creek rushed into ditches and eventually made its way to Woonsocket.
Many residents say it's the worst flooding they've ever seen in the town.
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The Daily Republic in Mitchell, S.D., is owned by Forum Communications Co.
