PIERRE, S.D. (KTIV) -
South Dakota's Governor is asking for $14-million in appropriations for the state's emergency fund, which was depleted by last year's flood along the Missouri River.
Governor Dennis Daugaard says the fund was $17-million in the red at the end of 2011. He expects another nine-million-dollars in flood-related costs to come in this year. While South Dakota will get several million dollars back from FEMA, it won't be enough to cover the entire cost.
Although Daugaard says the Army Corps of Engineers has indicated the chances of the Missouri flooding this year are very low he wants the Corps to stay focused on flooding.
"The downstream states from Montana, I think, are united in their agreement that flood control must be the number one concern of the corps," said Daugaard.
Governor Daugaard says Montana's unwillingness to come to the table, remains a concern.
As the northern most Missouri River state, Montana depends on a high river level for recreation, and is worried about the Corps releasing too much water too early in the season, but that's exactly what Daugaard wants to see: more water released sooner.
That's not the only change he's pushing to the Corps to make.
"There is no way that we could have avoided some flooding. That being said, I do believe that the Corps needs to implement better measuring systems," said Daugaard.
Daugaard says they also need to do a better job of communicating.
The Corps says they are addressing that concern. A series of flood preparedness meetings kicks off in North Sioux City Monday evening.
Citizens will hear formal presentations and be able to meet one-on-one with FEMA representatives, as well as local emergency officials.
The meeting runs from 7 to 9 p.m. inside the fire hall.
