Flooding Effects Still Trickling Into Pierre

PIERRE, SD - In Pierre, levees are holding steady against the Missouri River, but the effects of flooding are still trickling into town.

As water rushes through the Oahe Dam and down the Missouri River past Pierre, the city sits cautiously optimistic.

"We're glad that things are in place and we can maintain but we're still trying to make sure that the public is cognoscente of the fact that we need to be putting safety first," Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill said.

That means evacuations are still recommended in parts of town. Crews are also testing the storm sewer system so it can get water out of the city if there's a heavy rain.

And along with the rising Missouri, comes rising expenses for the city.

"We know this could be a several million dollar event by the time we're done," Gill said.

The city is tracking those expenses carefully and hoping to get a good chunk of it reimbursed. But leaders are planning as though they won't.

Despite a very real and ongoing flood fight, Gill wants to remind people the city isn't under water.

"People that aren't here have heard the story of flooding and we want the message to go out that our businesses, hotels, our meeting spaces, all of those are secure and on high ground in Pierre and so we hope people still make their way here," Gill said.

And if not, it'll be one more effect piled on to what's already trickling in as water rushes downstream of the Oahe Dam.

Pierre and Fort Pierre have set up hotlines people can call if they have any concerns or need any information. You can reach Pierre’s line at 605-773-3066 and Fort Pierre’s line at 605-223-7690.