McCook Lake flood scenarios show how levee controlled water flow

Governor’s office releases maps as flood response questions linger

The top image shows flood damage with the construction of a levee on I-29, the bottom shows damage without. (Governor Noem’s office)

Newly-released flood modeling suggests that the devastation at McCook Lake was not caused by an emergency levee.

Gov. Kristi Noem’s office Tuesday evening released two flood modeling scenarios and a timeline of the state’s response to the emergency. Compiled by the South Dakota Flood Information System, the maps show the emergency levee built in the evening hours of June 23 kept significant portions of North Sioux City from being overtaken with water.

Absent the levee, the modeling shows North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes flooding would have been catastrophic.

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