Sudden downpour floods homes and roads but drought persists

OGLALA LAKOTA COUNTY – A slow-moving thunderstorm system bypassed Rapid City entirely but caused devastating flash flooding over parts of the Pine Ridge Reservation and Oglala Lakota County. It’s estimated that in a short amount of time, the storm dumped over 6 to 7 inches of rain over the area on Tuesday evening triggering flash flooding that covered highways and pushed water into homes, according to Aaron Woodward, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at National Weather Service office in Rapid City.

Oglala Sioux Tribe Emergency Management officials reported intense, repeated rounds of heavy, rainfall from afternoon into early evening, produced more than 6-7 inches of rain which flooded streets and filled ditches extremely fast in Oglala and the surrounding communities. They said that some homes had to be evacuated to the Rec Center in Oglala. Flash flooding, washed out roads, drainage culverts and creek culverts that were plugged with debris were some of the challenges they were dealing with.

Woodward said that storm reports included about two feet of water over Highway 18 in Oglala, as well as reports of the high water filling up crawl spaces and basements.

Another report later in the evening described water starting to flood over Highway 41 north of Loneman. While conditions have improved since the storms passed, Woodward said the reports were collected during the event.

Pamela Eagle Hawk-Duran, like many, posted on Facebook to ask for prayers for her family, relatives, and residents of the area.

Becky Lone Elk in a Facebook post said she had never seen this extreme flooding despite being a long-time resident of the area.

Oglala Lakota Housing Authority posted that their maintenance team was checking units alongside the OST Emergency Management to make sure people were save.

There were no reports of tornadoes, NewsCenter1 meteorologist Dillon Vogt said on social media that the storm continued to hit the same spot “over and over.” He said there was very large hail just across the border in Wyoming from Edgemont, and hail reported at Devils Tower, Cactus Flat, and Sundance.

Despite the dramatic flooding, Woodward cautioned that a single extreme storm does little to ease ongoing drought.

“One huge convective event is not going to change the drought needle,” he said, explaining that extremely dry, “hydrophobic” soils cannot absorb sudden, violent downpours, causing much of the water to run off instead of soaking in.

For meaningful drought relief, Woodward said, the region needs multiple days of slow, steady rainfall, not just a single deluge. He likened beneficial precipitation to a slow-drip garden hose, rather than a blast of water aimed directly at a plant. While it would not be ideal, he did say if there were numerous days in a row of convective events could improve drought conditions.

Local emergency managers continue to assess the impacts on roads, homes, and pasture land following the storm.

OST Emergency Management posted a reminder that they expect more chances for strong, fast-moving storms in the next few days and into next week and caution residents to heed warnings and be ready if you live in low flood-prone areas. They also warn people to never drive through flooded areas with fast-moving water. They say it’s incredibly risky because the force of the water easily overpowers your vehicle. The NWS says six inches of moving water can reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and stalling the engine. Just twelve inches of rushing water can float and sweep away most cars, while two feet can carry away SUVs and trucks. Also, floodwaters are murky and obscure washed-out roads, deep potholes, open manholes, and sharp debris.

(Contact Marnie Cook at cookm8715@gmail.com)

The post Sudden downpour floods homes and roads but drought persists first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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