Photo By Staff Sgt. Manda Walters | Rex Newling, a City of Pierre electrician, checks the gauges of a generator placed...... read more read more
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PIERRE, S.D. – Pierre city workers from the fire, water, and electrical departments gathered at Steamboat Memorial Park’s Well House 1 Thursday morning, June 2, to test a generator that will be activated should flood waters surpass a levee that South Dakota National Guard soldiers are reinforcing just 35 feet away.
Rex Newling, a City of Pierre electrician, other city workers, and SDNG service members have spent many hours preparing the city, their friends and neighbors for the impending rising flood waters.
“I wish the high water would get here, then the anticipation would be over with,” said Newling, “but if normal power goes out, this generator will keep the well going.” The well is one of several which provide water to the city’s potable water reservoirs.
SDNG’s Sgt. Michael H. Ordal, a heavy equipment operator with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery said he is doing his best to keep the city and residents from experiencing a power outage.
Ordal and fellow service members are reinforcing the existing levee at Steamboat Park with the help of a crane, 4,000-pound sand bags, and guidance from the Army Corps of Engineers.
“The Army Corps of Engineers places fill and cut line markers to aid in the construction of levees,” said Ordal. These markers are used to designate how much dirt is needed to hold back the projected water levels, he said.
The levee, measuring more than 12 feet across, approximately 5 feet in height and stretching the length of the park, is expected to keep water away from area structures. A fill line marker near the levee and well house shows that its current height will be more than adequate if projected water levels are accurate, Ordal said.
The Army Corps of Engineers plans to release water from the Oahe Reservoir beginning at 8:00 a.m., June 3. If the levee is successful, there will be no need for the generator to pump water from Well House 1 to one of the city’s water reservoirs because the power will remain on.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2011 14:59 |
| Story ID: | 71632 |
| Location: | PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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