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The South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service’s new flooding Web site offers a wealth of information to help landowners, agricultural producers, and the public as potential spring flooding conditions approach.
The Web site is available at this link: http://sdces.sdstate.edu/flood/. The site is linked to the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) and is one-stop sites for information that can help people prepare for flooding or lessen possible flooding impacts.
South Dakota Cooperative Extension Ag & Natural Resources Program Leader Bob Thaler said that the Web site can help all South Dakotans as they prepare for spring and the possibility of widespread flooding.
“From flood insurance information to science-based facts on flood preparation and preventive measures, the new page is certainly a great Internet-based option for people who may face flooding problems after a long winter,” Thaler said. “We see the page as a resource that augments the role of Extension in South Dakota. We will continue to update the page as conditions change.”
Publications, news releases, and other information compiled on the site cover topics including evaluating flood risks, preventing sewer backup and snow-melt problems, preparation steps to keep homes, appliances, and other possessions safer in the event of floods, and many more.
“Proper planning can offset the impacts of flooding, and the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service is ready to help anyone as we approach spring,” Thaler said. “The Web page is only one part of our work, but it should be a first-stop for people who want to be prepared as all this snow begins to melt.”
In addition to visiting the Web site, Family and Consumer Sciences Interim Program Leader Marjorie Zastrow says there are a few steps that the public can take to be better prepared for snowmelt and flooding:
- Assess your risk for flooding or moisture seepage. If you have had either previously, be prepared for the coming weeks. Survey your home and determine the direction of rain or snowmelt runoff. You want the water to move away from your home’s foundation and away from your neighbor’s home.
- Check your sump pump to make sure it is operating properly and that the drain hose is placed for proper drainage.
- If the lower level of your residence has had moisture in the past, consider moving items to a higher location.
- Check your generator to make sure it is operating properly. It may need fresh gas and an oil change if it has not been operated for some time.
- If you have floor drains that do not have a floating plug, other devices can be purchased that can plug these drains and are good to have on hand.
- If you may be at risk for a sewer backup, have prevention plans in place.
For more information on flooding preparation, call your county Extension office. For questions about the site or Extension flooding preparation assistance, call Thaler at 605-688-5435.
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