Sioux Falls activates Emergency Operations Center as flooding and heavy rains continue

Sioux Falls has activated its Emergency Operations Center, and Friday night’s heavy rains are expected to add to already widespread flooding throughout the area.

A city news release said city officials, along with partners in South Dakota and Lincoln and Minnehaha counties, were monitoring the weather, with the potential for another 2 inches of rain falling in the city overnight Friday into Saturday morning, adding to 3-5 inches that have already fallen in the last 48 hours.

More: Live Updates: Sioux Falls, parts of Lincoln County under flash flood warning

The release said the most important thing homeowners could do is check sump pumps, making sure they don’t discharge into floor drains to avoid overwhelming the city’s sanitary sewer system.

Sioux Falls is currently under a flash flood warning until 11:30 pm Friday evening, a flash flood warning until 7:00 am Saturday morning and a flash flood warning until 7:30 am Saturday morning.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation encouraged drivers in the southeastern part of the state to avoid travel if possible.

The release said the last time the city’s EOC was activated was in April, when citywide 911 services were shut down for more than two hours.

This article originally appeared on the Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls activates Emergency Operations Center amid ongoing flooding