Soldiers of 211th Engineering Company of the South
Soldiers of 211th Engineering Company of the South Dakota Army National Guard prepare to take a break from sandbagging operations here, June 5, 2011. Soldiers and airmen alike are enduing hot and dusty work con... More
Members of the South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire
Members of the South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire Suppression build a wall of sandbags next to the Missouri River during flood relief missions June 2. The team of fire fighters known as the Black Hats and B... More
Soldiers from the 740th, Transportation Company of
Soldiers from the 740th, Transportation Company of Milbank and Aberdeen, and the 153rd Engineer Battalion, Forward Support Company of Parkston work together to shore up a section of the levee by building a laye... More
Senior Airman Zach Blindert of the South Dakota Air
Senior Airman Zach Blindert of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing from Sioux Falls hauls a load of sand to awaiting airmen filling sandbags, Saturday, June 4, at the Dakota Valley High Sch... More
Staff Sgt. Darren Rus (left), Sioux Falls, S.D., goes
Staff Sgt. Darren Rus (left), Sioux Falls, S.D., goes over some information on an incident map with Staff Sgt. Daniel Schumacher, from Brookings, S.D. Both soldiers belong to the 211th Engineer Company, Madison... More
Pfc. Chad Barth, a medic with the 153rd Engineer Battalion
Pfc. Chad Barth, a medic with the 153rd Engineer Battalion out of Huron, grabs a few bottles of water for the soldiers filling sand bags at the Gateway facility, June 12. "On hot days like this, hydration is ve... More
Members of the South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire
Members of the South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire Suppression walk along a wall of sandbags next to the Missouri River during flood relief missions June 2. The team of fire fighters known as the Black Hats ... More
Sgt. Stephanie Johnson (left) from Jasper, Minn., a
Sgt. Stephanie Johnson (left) from Jasper, Minn., a member of Medical Command based out of Rapid City, and Master Sgt. Angela Pesicka from Parker, a member of the 114th Fighter Wing, Medical Group, pull up in t... More
Tech. Sgts. Derek Frerich (left), and Andy Anderson
Tech. Sgts. Derek Frerich (left), and Andy Anderson of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing from Sioux Falls help unload sand into sandbags, June 4, at the Dakota Valley High School. Crews o... More
A portion of the Mud Lake levee has slowed the rising
A portion of the Mud Lake levee has slowed the rising Missouri River down, but is now inaccessible by levee patrol teams in Dakota Dunes, S.D., June 27, 2011. The Mud Lake sandbag wall is one of the many places... More
The Riv-r-land housing development has been evacuated
The Riv-r-land housing development has been evacuated and the waters of the Missouri River are covering the streets in this neighborhood of the development, June 9. Local law enforcement, with the help of sever... More
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has increased the
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has increased the output of the Gavins Point Dam spillway to 150,000 CFS, June 14, 2011. The flow was increased to help regulate the Missouri River due to record snow and rain f... More
Missouri River flood waters continue to envelope areas
Missouri River flood waters continue to envelope areas of least resistance, June 6, 2011. The south levee of the Dakota Dunes levee system has protected most of the golf holes at Dakota Dunes Country Club. How... More
Soldiers from the 1742nd Transportation Company of
Soldiers from the 1742nd Transportation Company of the South Dakota Army National guard prepare to haul a load of 20, 1-ton helibags filled with sand from the Helibase site at North Sioux City, S.D., June 5, us... More
Airmen 1st Class Garret Werkmeister from Howard, S.D
Airmen 1st Class Garret Werkmeister from Howard, S.D (left), and Senior Airman Brandon Bak from Castlewood, S.D., both F-16 crew chiefs with the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls... More
Spc. Emily Soulek (left) and Spc. Ryan Eilts, both
Spc. Emily Soulek (left) and Spc. Ryan Eilts, both of Mitchell, of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 139th Brigade Support Battalion, check the depth of the Missouri River on the wet side of the Mud Lake s... More
Staff Sgt. Kelsey Lambert of the South Dakota Air National
Staff Sgt. Kelsey Lambert of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing from Sioux Falls carries a sandbag to an awaiting resident, Saturday, June 4, 2011, at the Dakota Valley High School. Crews ... More
Pvt. Justin Frank, a medic with the 153rd Engineer
Pvt. Justin Frank, a medic with the 153rd Engineer Battalion, Huron, has been attached to the 114th Fighter Wing to support the health of the airmen as they sand bag at the water treatment facility June 4. Fran... More
Jim Zortman, a resident of the Riv-r-land housing
Jim Zortman, a resident of the Riv-r-land housing development and his family have displayed writing, "God help us!"
Chaplain David Stimes (far left), with the Headquarters,
Chaplain David Stimes (far left), with the Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 153rd Engineer Battalion, Huron, helps raise morale by visiting with members of the 211th Engineer Company as they perform levee pa... More
A National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter lowers
A National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter lowers a sandbag onto a fairway at the Dakota Dunes Country Club June 2. The sandbags, which weigh between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds, are being used to construct levees... More
Missouri River flood waters claim a residential property,
Missouri River flood waters claim a residential property, June 6, 2011. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released water from Gavins Point Dam at 120,000 cubic feet per second June 6. Officials estimate by June ... More
Spc. Bronson Odle from Rapid City, S.D., a member of
Spc. Bronson Odle from Rapid City, S.D., a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 235th Military Police Company, Rapid City, checks an ID at the north levee checkpoint, June 29, 2011. The 235th has be... More
Members of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th
Members of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing from Sioux Falls team up to fill sandbags, Saturday, June 4, 2011, at the Dakota Valley High School. Crews of airmen have provided much needed... More
Pfc. Thad Buri, Watertown, a service member of the
Pfc. Thad Buri, Watertown, a service member of the 235th Military Police Company, directs traffic at a traffic control point in Dakota Dunes, June 17. Buri and other members of the 235th Military Police Company... More
Airmen from the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th
Airmen from the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls, enjoy a midnight snack while taking a break from their levee patrol duties, June 29, 2011. The airmen are patrolling the levee ... More
The strength of the south levee of the Dakota Dunes
The strength of the south levee of the Dakota Dunes levee system will be tested by the Missouri River as flood waters begin to crawl up the side of the man-made barrier, June 6, 2011. On June 8, service member... More
Senior Airman Jeremy Kuperus (left) from Sioux Falls,
Senior Airman Jeremy Kuperus (left) from Sioux Falls, S.D., a specialist with the Avionics section of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls, and Senior Airman Danielle Glaser fro... More
Two members of the South Dakota Air National Guard's
Two members of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing from Sioux Falls team up to fill a sandbag, Saturday, June 4, 2011, at the Dakota Valley High School. Airmen have provided much needed sup... More
Soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard's
Soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard's 139th Brigade Support Battalion, Mitchell, work as a team to reinforce the backside of the Mud Lake sandbag wall in Dakota Dunes, S.D., June 24, 2011. The Mu... More
Sgt. Stephanie Johnson (left) from Jasper, Minn., a
Sgt. Stephanie Johnson (left) from Jasper, Minn., a member of Medical Command based out of Rapid City, and Master Sgt. Angela Pesicka from Parker, a member of the 114th Fighter Wing Medical Group, stop to check... More
A Vertol CH-47 Chinook helicopter of the Illinois National
A Vertol CH-47 Chinook helicopter of the Illinois National Guard approaches the Helibase landing site in North Sioux City, S.D., June 3. The Chinook and three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are delivering up to 3... More
The U.S. Corps of Engineers increased the output of
The U.S. Corps of Engineers increased the output of the Gavins Point Dam spillway to 150, 000 cubic feet per second, June 14, 2011. The release rate is now at the highest point in the dam's history to help regu... More
Spc. Greg Pinea, a member of the 211th Engineering
Spc. Greg Pinea, a member of the 211th Engineering Company of the South Dakota Army National Guard, scoops a load of sand for sandbags being used to complete the primary levee here, June 5, 2011. The unit, base... More
Pallets of sandbags are staged in the parking lot of
Pallets of sandbags are staged in the parking lot of the McCook Lake Middle School, June 13. The sandbags have been filled and palletized to be staged for emergency repairs on the levee systems that have been b... More
A crew of airmen with the 114th Fighter Wing of the
A crew of airmen with the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard carefully place sandbags along a retaining wall where heavy equipment could not be used to reinforce the levee here, June 5, 2... More
South Dakota Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Kenny
South Dakota Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Kenny Kayser, of the 153rd Forward Support Company out of Parkston, fills a sandbag from a dispenser attached to a dump truck, June 3, at the Gateway facility in ... More
The "mighty" Missouri River continues its historic
The "mighty" Missouri River continues its historic rise above sea level, June 6, 2011. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released water from Gavins Point Dam at 120,000 cubic feet per second. Officials estimate ... More
A heavy equipment operator navigates the top of a levee
A heavy equipment operator navigates the top of a levee along the banks of the Missouri River June 2. Contractors, Volunteers, and South Dakota National Guardsman have been working feverishly to construct levee... More
The strength of the south levee of the Dakota Dunes
The strength of the south levee of the Dakota Dunes levee system will be tested by the Missouri River as flood waters begin to crawl up the side of the man-made barrier, June 6, 2011. On June 8, service member... More
South Dakota Department of Correction inmates help
South Dakota Department of Correction inmates help the flood relief efforts at Gateway facility, June 3, in North Sioux City, S.D. Inmates, National Guard members, and volunteers are producing up to 150,000 san... More
Contractors rush to fix a section of the levee holding
Contractors rush to fix a section of the levee holding back the surging Missouri River, June 16. At 6:20 a.m., the levee patrol located a section of the levee that was being eroded away by the river current of ... More
Pfc. Trever McDaniel, Aberdeen, 740th Transportation
Pfc. Trever McDaniel, Aberdeen, 740th Transportation Company (left) and Spc. Jim DeHoogh, Sioux Falls, 153rd Engineer Battalion, Forward Support Company, pass sandbags down to a crew of soldiers here June 24. T... More
South Dakota Army National Guard Spc. Wes Sudbeck hands
South Dakota Army National Guard Spc. Wes Sudbeck hands a sandbag to Spc. Kyle Boehmer as they build a pallet of sangbags during flood relief operations, June 3, at the Gateway facility in North Sioux City, S.D... More
This is the same home as pictured above in the Riv-r-land
This is the same home as pictured above in the Riv-r-land housing development five days later. Neighbors and friends within this community have spent countless hours sandbagging, and hauling in dirt and rock to... More
Capt. Michael Marquardt, a member of the German army
Capt. Michael Marquardt, a member of the German army reserve from Germany, compares methods and procedures with Capt. Derris Buus, Rapid City, 211th Engineer Company commander, and Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ploost... More
British troops work alongside National Guard in flooding operations
Cpl. Arseny Barkovskiy conducts drivers training in a South Dakota National Guard Humvee.
Soldiers and airmen with the South Dakota National
Soldiers and airmen with the South Dakota National Guard are transitioning from sandbag operations to a levee patrol mission on the Dakota Dunes levee system, Wednesday, June 8, 2011.
Spc. Bronson Odle from Rapid City, S.D., a member of
Spc. Bronson Odle from Rapid City, S.D., a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 235th Military Police Company, Rapid City, checks an ID at the north levee checkpoint, June 29, 2011. The 235th has be... More
Construction crews work to strengthen the south levee
Construction crews work to strengthen the south levee of the Dakota Dunes levee system, June 6, 2011. The levee system will be tested by the Missouri River as flood waters begin to crawl up the side of the man... More
Spc. Jasen Haller, from Sioux Falls, S.D., and Spc.
Spc. Jasen Haller, from Sioux Falls, S.D., and Spc. Sam West, from Watertown, S.D., both members of the 211th Engineer Company, headquartered out of Madison, perform levee patrol duty in the "Country Club" area... More
Earlier, contractors and emergency management personnel
Earlier, contractors and emergency management personnel responded to a reported compromise in the levee June 16. Currents from the Missouri River have begun to erode the underside of the levee in certain areas ... More
Staff Sgt. Andy Kessler, from Lesterville (left) and
Staff Sgt. Andy Kessler, from Lesterville (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Darren Bigge, from Parkston, return to the Liberty Bank building after helping stranded civilians out of their flooded vehicles and giving the... More
Airmen from the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th
Airmen from the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing continue on their way after receiving water from the Task Force 114 medic staff here June 28,2011. The airmen and soldiers of the South Dakot... More
Missouri River flood waters claim a residential property,
Missouri River flood waters claim a residential property, June 6, 2011. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released water from Gavin's Point Dam at 120,000 cubic feet per second on Monday. Officials estimate by J... More
South Dakota National Guard Palletized Load Systems
South Dakota National Guard Palletized Load Systems are parked at the McCook Lake Middle School, June 13, now that the sandbagging portion is complete. Sandbags have been filled, palletized and staged here for ... More
Pfc.Thad Buri, Watertown, a service member of the 235th
Pfc.Thad Buri, Watertown, a service member of the 235th Military Police Company, halts traffic at a traffic control point in Dakota Dunes, June 17. Buri and other members of the 235th Military Police Company ar... More
Soldiers from the 740th Transportation Company and
Soldiers from the 740th Transportation Company and 153rd Engineer Battalion work together to unload sandbags off of a Palletized Load System here June 24. The South Dakota National Guard has been activated to h... More
Pallets of sandbags are staged in the parking lot of
Pallets of sandbags are staged in the parking lot of the McCook Lake Middle School, June 13. The sandbags have been filled and palletized to be staged for emergency repairs on the levee systems that have been b... More
Spc. Tyler Pepper, (left) from Bonesteel and Spc. Ryan
Spc. Tyler Pepper, (left) from Bonesteel and Spc. Ryan Eilts, from Mitchell, of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 139th Brigade Support Battalion, place sandbags along the backside of the Mud Lake sandbag ... More
The South Dakota Army National Guard's 139th Brigade
The South Dakota Army National Guard's 139th Brigade Support Battalion is set up in the Wynstone development, in Southeast South Dakota to help with flood relief efforts June 27, 2011. Members of the 139th were... More
Spc. Jeremy Card (left), Staff Sgt. Jeff Liebl, and
Spc. Jeremy Card (left), Staff Sgt. Jeff Liebl, and Spc. Sarah Haug, of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 153rd Forward Support Company out of Parkston, team up to operate a sand dispenser while filling la... More
Contractors add rock to the face of the levee to repair
Contractors add rock to the face of the levee to repair the erosion that occurred this morning June 16. Currents from the Missouri River have begun to erode the underside of the levee causing the face to fall a... More
Senior Master Sgt. Donald McLeer from Tea, S.D. (middle),
Senior Master Sgt. Donald McLeer from Tea, S.D. (middle), a 1st Sgt. with the South Dakota National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, interviews Airmen 1st Class Garret Werkmeister (right), from Howard, S.D., an... More
Staff Sgt. Bill Voeltz from Watertown, S.D., a mechanic
Staff Sgt. Bill Voeltz from Watertown, S.D., a mechanic with the South Dakota Army National Guard's 740th Transportation Company, Milbank, inspects a mechanical problem on an all-terrain vehicle during his quic... More
Tony Marx of Jefferson, unloads a pallet of sandbags
Tony Marx of Jefferson, unloads a pallet of sandbags onto a trailer, June 3, at the Gateway facility in North Sioux City, S.D. Marx, a local contractor, is working alongside National Guard members, inmates and ... More
Pfc. Chad Barth (left) from Huron, hands off a radio
Pfc. Chad Barth (left) from Huron, hands off a radio to Pfc. Desiree Jones, Britton, at a security check point, June 8. Barth and Jones belong to the 153rd Engineer Battalion, Huron.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Plooster, of Tyler, Minn., is
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Plooster, of Tyler, Minn., is a member of the 211th Engineer Company. The 211th is headquartered in Madison, and Plooster relays important information to some of his fellow soldiers via r... More
Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operate
Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operate a cleaning barge above the Gavins Point Dam to perform routine maintenance, June 14, 2011. The Corps moved the output level up to 150,000 cubic feet per secon... More
Staff Sgt. Paula Beckler, a soldier with the 740th
Staff Sgt. Paula Beckler, a soldier with the 740th Transportation Company, Aberdeen, (right) leads a team of soldiers from the 740th in quick reactionary mission to shore up a section of the levee here June 24.... More
Spc. Emily Soulek, Mitchell, 139th Battalion Support
Spc. Emily Soulek, Mitchell, 139th Battalion Support Brigade, loads sandbags into the back of an all terrain vehicle in Dakota Dunes, S.D., June 24, 2011. The soldiers are using the bags to help build a sandbag... More
Brig. Gen. Wayne Shanks (right), the assistant adjutant
Brig. Gen. Wayne Shanks (right), the assistant adjutant general for Air of the South Dakota National Guard, tours the levee system at Dakota Dunes, Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Soldiers and airmen with the South Da... More
A National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lowers
A National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lowers a sandbag onto a fairway at the Dakota Dunes Country Club June 2. The sandbags, which weigh between 2000 and 4000 pounds each, are being used to construct lev... More
A large thunderstorm rolls across the Dakota Dunes
A large thunderstorm rolls across the Dakota Dunes area June 20. The storm dropped approximately three inches of rain on the already saturated neighborhoods, as the nearby Missouri River continues to rise agai... More
South Dakota National Guard 998 Humvee.
South Dakota National Guard 998 Humvee.
Sgt. Stephanie Johnson (left) from Jasper, Minn., a
Sgt. Stephanie Johnson (left) from Jasper, Minn., a member of Medical Command based out of Rapid City, and Master Sgt. Angela Pesicka from Parker, a member of the 114th Fighter Wing Medical Group, stop to check... More
South Dakota Army National Guard Pvt. Jason Weedman,
South Dakota Army National Guard Pvt. Jason Weedman, of the 153rd Forward Support Company out of Parkston, scoops a shovel full of sand into a sandbag, June 3, at the Gateway facility in North Sioux City, S.D. ... More
A crew of Airmen with the 114th Fighter Wing of the
A crew of Airmen with the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard work to complete part of the primary levee being constructed here, June 5, 2011. The airmen are working alongside Army Nationa... More
Senior Airman Zach Gunn, Dell Rapids, 114th Fighter
Senior Airman Zach Gunn, Dell Rapids, 114th Fighter Wing, plays piano and sings songs to help pass the time while the soldiers and airmen who would normally be performing their levee patrol and quick reaction f... More
Missouri River flood waters are threatening residential
Missouri River flood waters are threatening residential properties, June 6, 2011. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released water from Gavins Point Dam at 120,000 cubic feet per second June 6. Officials estimat... More
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased the output
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased the output of the Gavins Point Dam spillway to 150,000 cubic feet per second June 14, 2011. The flow was increased to help regulate the Missouri River due to record sn... More
Heavy equipment operators team up to construct a levee
Heavy equipment operators team up to construct a levee along the banks of the Missouri River June 2. Contractors, volunteers, and South Dakota National Guardsman have been working feverishly to construct levees... More
South Dakota Air National Guard, 114th Fighter Wing
South Dakota Air National Guard, 114th Fighter Wing members, Command Chief Master Sgt. Jim Welch (right), Col. Al Bolton (left), Director of Intelligence for the S.D. National Guard joint staff and Master Sgt. ... More
Soldiers and airmen with the South Dakota National
Soldiers and airmen with the South Dakota National Guard are transitioning from sandbag operations to a levee patrol mission on the Dakota Dunes levee system, Wednesday, June 8, 2011. The team of service member... More
Task Force 153 becomes Task Force 114
Lt. Col. Greg Lair (left), Lt. Col. Joe Eining (middle) and Lt. Col. Barry Whitney discuss logistical information regarding the upcoming change from Task Force 153 to Task Force 114 here June 21. The 114th Figh... More
Soldiers of 211th Engineering Company of the South
Soldiers of 211th Engineering Company of the South Dakota Army National Guard receive a load of sandbags as they work to complete an area of the primary levee being constructed here, June 5, 2011. The unit, bas... More
Spc. Patty Heermann, Pierre, a service member of the
Spc. Patty Heermann, Pierre, a service member of the 235th Military Police Company, checks the ID card of a resident returning to their Dakota Dunes home, June 17. Heermann and other members of the 235th Milita... More
Brig. Gen. Wayne Shanks (right), the assistant adjutant
Brig. Gen. Wayne Shanks (right), the assistant adjutant general for Air of the South Dakota National Guard, takes a few moments to visit with some soldiers of the 211th Engineer Company who are conducting levee... More
Members of the South Dakota National guard unload a
Members of the South Dakota National guard unload a 2,000 pound helibag filled with sand onto a Heavy Expanded Mobility Truck at the Helibase site at North Sioux City, S.D., June 5. Soldiers of the 153rd Forwar... More
Soldiers from the 740th Transportation Company and
Soldiers from the 740th Transportation Company and 153rd Engineer Battalion work together to unload sandbags off of a Palletized Load System here June 24. The South Dakota National Guard has been activated to h... More
Members of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th
Members of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing from Sioux Falls team up to fill sandbags for local residents, Saturday, June 4, at the Dakota Valley High School. Crews of airmen have provid... More
Dave Becker, Gavins Point Dam project manager explains
Dave Becker, Gavins Point Dam project manager explains different functions of the spillway, June 14, 2011. The flow of the dam was increased to 150,000 cubic feet per second to help regulate the Missouri River ... More
Members of the United States Customs and Border Patrol
Members of the United States Customs and Border Patrol respond to an alarm from a residence inside of the evacuated area June 29, 2011. The alarm was heard by the night shift levee patrol and reported to the Bo... More
Members of the United States Border Patrol check the
Members of the United States Border Patrol check the perimeter of a residence June 29, 2011. The Border Patrol agents were deputized by the Union County Sheriff’s Department and are helping provide security for... More