Sioux Falls has activated its Emergency Operations Center as heavy rain Friday evening is expected to add to the already widespread flooding throughout the area.
A city news release said city officials, along with partners from South Dakota, Lincoln and Minnehaha counties, were monitoring the weather with the possibility of another two inches of rain falling across the city from Friday evening through Saturday morning. 3-5 centimeters that had already fallen in the last 48 hours.
More: Live updates: Sioux Falls, parts of Lincoln County under flash flood warning
According to the press release, the most important thing homeowners can do is check sump pumps to ensure they are not entering floor drains to prevent the city’s sanitary sewer system from becoming overloaded.
Sioux Falls is currently under a flash flood warning until 11:30 PM Friday evening, a flood warning until 7:00 AM Saturday morning, and a flood warning until 7:30 AM Saturday morning.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation has encouraged motorists in the southeastern part of the state to avoid traveling if possible.
According to the press release, the last time the city’s EOC was activated was in April, when 911 services were unavailable citywide for more than two hours.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls activates Emergency Operations Center amid ongoing flooding
