Extension Disaster Education Network -- Snow and Ice Page SD Office of Emergency Management -- Winter Weather Preparedness Guide   Prep Your Business for the Unthinkable Pet Safety SDSU has been awarded a grant to develop disaster education plans for special need populations. The process of this planning will be the model for Extension staff across the country work with community organizations to develop disaster plans.

Severe Winter Weather

Food safety, generator, power loss, snow loads, ice dams and more information for your home in severe winter weather

Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be informed. These are the steps to be prepared for any disaster natural or man-made. As you plan consider whether you will be sheltering in place, evacuating or possibly doing both! Severe winter weather is one disaster plans should be made for both sheltering in place and also evacuation. The primary concern in planning for severe winter weather is preparing for the potential loss of power, heat, and/or communication systems. And should travel be necessary during severe winter weather, one must also prepare vehicles and have a communication plan in place. See the SDSU Climate and Weather page for critical weather information and links to the National Weather Service.

Get a Kit: Build an emergency kit tailored for you and your family by going to bReadySD.com. You will be able to build your kit for 3 days or weeks, with food, water, and supplies needed for your family based on age of each family member. This link will also help you budget for creating a comprehensive kit.  

When planning for severe winter weather make sure to have access to adequate warm clothing, blankets, etc. If sheltering in place and loss of electricity of heat remember:

1. Never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, garage, or camper—or even outside near an open window.

2. Do not try to use bottles gas in natural gas appliances unless you have converted the appliances for such use. Also, flues and piping suitable for gas burning appliances may be unsafe for use with higher-temperature oil, coal or wood smoke.

3. If you use a catalytic or unvented heater, cross-ventilate by opening a window an inch on each side of the room. This will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Make a Plan. It is particularly important if you must travel during severe winter weather that you have a communication plan in place.  Be sure someone knows your departure time, expected travel route, and call when you have reached your destination. Check road conditions prior to departure at SD DOT Road Conditions

Be Informed. Learn the winter weather terms and a few tips to prepare your car and home at ready.gov.   

Flooding

Flood update 5-31-11

Missouri River Inclusion: Dennis Todey – State Climatologist

By far the largest development of the last week has been the US Army Corps of Engineers notification of plans to increase flows dramatically on all Missouri River dams over the next few weeks. The impact of this flooding will be fairly limited in scope to areas along the Missouri River, but obviously large in impact because of the people living in areas that are subject to flooding.

Information about specific flood areas is included on a SD Government flood site: http://www.disasterrecovery.sd.gov/

The releases from the dams are by far above anything seen since the building of the dams and causing great hardship.

Some background information into the issue can illustrate what has happened. The river system has been recovering from the drought in the early-mid part of the previous decade. Precipitation across the basin has increased in the last several years.  Part of the goal has been to get reservoir levels returned to more normal levels. But recent developments have necessitated a drastic change.

Here is precipitation in the Great Plains since last October (what is referred to as the water year). The additional precipitation over that time is quite apparent in the Missouri River basin (Fig. 1). Most of Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota have seen 150-200% of average precipitation during the time.  That will obviously greatly increase inflows to the reservoir system. But on top of expected large inflows from the wet fall and winter run-off came additional recent precipitation (Fig. 2). Some areas of eastern Montana have 6-10” in the last 30 days adding to an already full system.

Flood levels in other areas of the state have increased because of the recent wet period in the state. Heavy rains have started flooding in western South Dakota and added to already wet conditions in the eastern part of the state.

Unfortunately the current 6-10 day and 8-14 day outlook include above average chances for precipitation across the northern plains. While this may not significantly worsen the Missouri River system, it will add to already wet conditions other locations across the state.

Long range outlooks - http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

All further updates on weather, climate or crop progress may be found on
Dr. Todey's blog.

Extension Disaster Education flood preparation, response, recovery and mitigation resources

Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be informed. Flooding is the most common natural disaster. Flooding in South Dakota occurs from heavy rainfall, spring snow melt, new construction, and failure of man-made structures to contain flood water. Flash floods are the number one weather related killer in the United States.

Know your risk:

Shelter in place or evacuate?

It is entirely possible that in the event of a flood you may forced to shelter in place, evacuate, or both thus prepare accordingly.

Get a Kit: Build an emergency kit tailored for you and your family by going to bReadySD.com. You will be able to build your kit for 3 days or weeks, with food, water, and supplies needed for your family based on age of each family member. This link will also help you budget for creating a comprehensive kit.  You may use your kit for sheltering in place or you may need to take your kit in the event of evacuation. In the event of evacuation, be sure to have copies of prescription medications and medical supplies and your important documents and copies. This includes your driver's license, Social Security card, passport, mortgage or rental agreement, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.  It is important to plan for your pet(s) whether you shelter in place or evacuate. Have a supply of pet food ready as well as records of vaccinations.

Make a Plan. Your family may not be together when a flood strikes, thus have a communication plan in place. It is important to have school, child care provider, work, and cell phone numbers for your family recorded. Make and practice a plan as to how family members will communicate in the event you are separated. bReadySD.com. will guide you through the process of making a communication plan. Once complete share copies with your family members, teachers, child care providers, etc.

In the wake of hurricane Katrina, many communities have developed plans to care for pets in the event of a disaster. Check with your local emergency manager to see if such a plan is in place in your community.

Be Informed. Know the flood potential in your community and keep abreast of developing weather that may cause flooding. If you do not have one purchase a weather radio to alert you to fast developing weather events which may lead to flooding. Research and Extension staff, experts on issues related to flooding offer these suggestions for protecting your property in the event of flood (EDEN eXtension Community of Practice):

Influenza Season 2010-2011

South Dakota Department of Health - Click here to see state influenza activity and influenza information

Centers for Disease Control - Click here to view regional and national influenza activity and general influenza control measures.