Floods wreak havoc in our area

Extremely heavy rains doused the northern Black Hills last week, causing numerous streams and rivers to go out of their banks. On Thursday, the Millers measured 5.25" of rain in their Yellowstone Place gauge in one 24-hour period. Downtown Spearfish experienced flooding when Spearfish Creek rose out of its channel and went up over Jackson Boulevard. There were other areas in the Spearfish vicinity that experienced flooding -- but nothing like our friends in Meade County.

Above is Janet Roorda's house in Belle Fourche, which has incurred much damage throughout the community. Many YPA neighbors will remember Jan and her late husband, Dick, who lived in Yellowstone Place for several years. Jan also served as YPA President for a time.

"Belle Fourche is a disaster area," Jan wrote to friends and relatives last Friday. Indeed, Governor Mike Rounds declared the entire state a disaster area due to heavy rains and widespread flood damage. Jan Roorda said rivers and creeks in Belle Fourche converged quickly and many people were evacuated from their homes. She said she was asked to leave her premises on Thursday, which was a good thing because there was a major water surge about 3 o'clock Friday morning that put everything under water.

As of this date, work is still being done to cope with damage from the flood. Streets closed. Homes flooded. Wells breached.

The first six months of 2008 have offered extremes that even South Dakotans find a bit unusual. From enormous winds in January to heavy snowfalls and record moisture in May. And now a very wet start to June. The photo at left shows the drainage area on the south side of Yellowstone Place. It's usually dry across this stretch, except when there's a heavy rainfall. On Thursday of last week, it reached the highest level we've seen in three years.

The rapid downpour caused at least two neighborhood downspouts to overflow. In that regard, YPA has made arrangement for Merle's Yard Service to clean gutters and downspouts in the next week or so.