Flash Flood in Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Rainfall of 3 to 8 inches caused flooding of numerous basements. Structural damaged was caused to several of the basements as walls caved in. Ground floors of several residences, businesses, and schools were flooded, including a dentists office. There was significant damage to contents in the flooded buildings, including carpets, furniture, clothing, electronic equipment, and electric wiring. A mobile home park was especially hard hit, with all 37 units in the park flooded, and some units completely washed out. Many roads were flooded, and several were partly washed out, mainly at intersections. One parking lot caved in, with a driver barely escaping in his vehicle. Water and sewer lines were damaged during the cave-ins of the lot and of the basements. Several vehicles were damaged by flooding. Several parks in the city were flooded and closed, as was the zoo.

Flash flooding of streams, roads, lowlands, homes, and other buildings was especially severe in the Valley Springs area. Most of the town was flooded, with widespread damage to basements and first floors of homes. The flooding left a layer of mud over much of the town. The sewer system backed up, leaving sewage in several houses and apartments.. A mobile home park was hard hit, with damage to the mobile home structures as well as the contents. Flooding and debris left some roads in the area closed for three days. Vehicles were damaged. The flooding in Valley Springs was caused by four to seven inches of rain falling in one to two hours. Damage outside the Valley Springs area was less severe, but stream and lowland flooding caused damage, especially in the Dell Rapids area. The Rocky Run Creek flooded a local golf course.The flooding damaged crops as well as property, but the amount of crop damage was not known.

3 to 6 inches of rain caused flooding of basements, and resulted in damage to contents, especially in Sioux Falls. Several apartments and duplexes were also flooded on the lower levels. The damage included waterlogged carpets, furniture, clothing, and television sets. At least 17 families were forced to move temporarily, according to the Red Cross, who aided the families. Flooding damaged roads in Sioux Falls, and made some roads impassable for several hours. Elsewhere over the southern part of the county, roads and fields were flooded. Crop damage was suspected from the field flooding, but the amount of damage was not known.