Fighting the Flood in Wagner

Editor Bernie Hunhoff captured these photos of the Wagner area flooding for the upcoming September/October issue.

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South Dakota's river valley cities received much of the attention during the summer-long Missouri River flood, but rural farm neighborhoods have also been impacted. Many farmers' crops were planted and growing before the river rose and swallowed them.
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In Charles Mix County, several farmsteads and rural residences were inundated. Neighbors and strangers banded together to help one another fight the river.
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This farm south of Wagner was more than a mile away from the river channel before the releases from the dams were ramped-up in early June.
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Farmers, Hutterite neighbors and Native Americans from the Yankton Sioux Tribe all pitched in to help sandbag this little house in Charles Mix County.
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The flood provided some opportunities for gaiety and socialization, but the early days of berm-building and sandbagging are nothing that anyone wants to relive.
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On a tour of the widened Missouri by boat, we discovered all sorts of debris that was swept away by the strong current.
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Only the roof of a Jet Stream camper was visible in the river near Avon.
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A county oil road south of Wagner was covered by water for the entire summer. Officials are wondering how much infrastructure damage will be revealed as the water recedes in late August and September.

Comments

08:59 am - Thu, August 18 2011

Amy said:

You really don't hear much about these smaller towns along the Missouri River affected by the flood. I can't imagine the farm land lost. Thanks for sharing these!