FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, June 3, 2011

Contact: Nathan Sanderson, Public Information Officer, 605-280-8852

Governor Daugaard calls for evacuation of threatened areas of Dakota Dunes

 
PIERRE, S.D. - Governor Dennis Daugaard is strongly urging that all residents of the “Country Club” area in Dakota Dunes evacuate their homes by 11:59 PM on Friday, June 3, 2011.  After the evacuation period ends, residents will not be allowed reentry and should assume that they will not be able to return for as long as two months.
 
Law enforcement officials will begin going door-to-door immediately to inform residents of this new evacuation request.

The evacuation includes all homes in the area known as the Country Club.  This request applies to all Dakota Dunes residents whose homes are on Monterey Trail, East and West Pinehurst Trail, Doral Lane and La Costa Lane, as well as all homes south of those streets.  This notice does not apply to the areas known as the Meadows and the Prairie.

Law enforcement will have maps with the evacuation zone clearly marked, and these maps are also available at http://www.disasterrecovery.sd.gov/.
 
As the evacuation progresses, residents should expect all utilities to be seriously impacted and eventually discontinued.

Although this is not a mandatory evacuation, Governor Daugaard reiterated that, once the deadline passes, transportation may soon become impossible and those remaining in Dakota Dunes may not be able to leave.

“I am asking all residents in the evacuation zones to be completely removed from their homes by Friday at midnight,” said Governor Daugaard.  “Water levels will be rapidly increasing in the coming week, and our first priority must be to complete the emergency levees.”
 
Union County Sheriff Dan Limoge strongly encouraged residents to comply with the evacuation deadline.

 
“We are making this request to protect residents from significant danger,” said Sheriff Limoge.  “Once the water level rises, we may not be able to respond to emergency calls in a timely fashion.”

Affected residents are reminded that during the evacuation process, levee construction will continue.  Residents should keep roadways clear – vehicles and trailers should not be parked on the street.

Governor Daugaard reiterated that nothing has changed in regard to the Corps’ plans for water releases.
 
“We are not announcing this evacuation in response to new information,” the Governor explained.  “But the time has come for residents in these areas to leave.  Although we hope emergency levees will succeed, residents need to assume the worst and protect themselves and their property.”

State and local officials will continue to assess the risk and will inform the public about new information, as it is received, so that they know when it is safe to return to their homes.  Local law enforcement will take steps to protect private property while it is vacated.
 

The American Red Cross is operating a shelter at Dakota Valley Schools, 1150 North Shore Drive, North Sioux City, South Dakota.

 “We are in uncharted waters,” says the Governor.  “There is time to evacuate in a safe and orderly fashion, and I strongly request that all residents of the affected area comply.”
 
More information is available by calling the Dakota Dunes Calling Center, at 1-866-446-5324, or by visiting http://www.breadysd.com/.

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