This message brought to you by federal employees...

Today, a reminder of how much we depend on the dedicated work of Federal and other public employees, both on our personal and economic lives. Whole industries depend directly on weather data (for example, Weather Underground, which passed on this NWS report), and for safety and recreation we benefit from real-time streamflow we can get by web and cell phone. South Dakota would be in a pretty pickle without Federal employees.

This is relevant to the current debate about Federal employees. As the baby boomers in the Federal workforce retire, we need to interest the best and the brightest in public service, and we need the old guard to stay around to pass their expertise on to them. The current right-wing rhetoric and threatened actions against Federal employees is dangerous for us in particular.

Democrats need to continue to stand up and tell the truth about how Republican rhetoric against public servants is very bad for all Americans, but especially for South Dakotans, who depend on Federal employees for our livelihood (and our very lives).

Statement as of 2:55 AM MDT on May 24, 2011

... Flood Watch remains in effect through late tonight...

The Flood Watch continues for

* portions of southwest South Dakota and west central South
Dakota... including the following areas... in southwest South
Dakota... Bennett... Custer co plains... Fall River... Hermosa
foot hills... Jackson... Shannon... southern Black Hills and
southern foot hills. In west central South Dakota... central
Black Hills... northern Black Hills... Pennington co plains...
Rapid City... southern Meade co plains and Sturgis/Piedmont
foot hills.

* Through late tonight

* one to two inches of rain with locally higher amounts is
expected through tonight. Runoff from the heavy rain on the
saturated ground may produce flooding of area creeks and low
lying areas.


Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Flood Watch means that flooding is possible along rivers and
creeks in the watch area... but is not imminent. If you are in the
watch area... take time to move livestock... equipment... and other
property from low lying areas before flooding occurs. Monitor
NOAA Weather Radio and local media for updated forecasts and be
ready to quickly move to higher ground if rising water levels are
observed or a warning is issued.