Noem honors flood response teams and names state geologist in joint session

Governor Kristi Noem recounted the state’s response to recent floods and presented hero awards to state and local responders in the joint legislative session.

Noem singled out the state geologist at the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for providing what she said were reliable river‑flow projections when federal forecasts were unreliable. “Tim is our South Dakota state geologist with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He lives, and has he saved lives with his water flow projections,” Noem said.

The governor also described a high‑risk rescue in rural Union County in which Game, Fish and Parks personnel launched a boat through a highway ditch to reach a trapped individual and thereby averted a more dangerous helicopter rescue. She honored specific Department of Game, Fish and Parks staff and members of the Sioux Falls Swift Water Rescue Team. Noem listed award recipients by name: Sam Skalhas, Jeremy Rowe, Christopher Shearer, Taylor Ethington, and six members of the Sioux Falls Swift Water Rescue Team: Mike Murphy, Mike Olson, Adam Frick, Chris Lohan, Jack Claussen, and Rob Flannery.

Why it matters: Noem used the address to emphasize coordinated state agency response during natural disasters, highlight investments in levees and dams, and recognize personnel who participated in rescues. The governor framed emergency management and improved infrastructure as a continuing legislative and budget priority.

Details and context: Noem said that in the cited flood year 63 of 66 counties were declared federal disaster areas during her first year in office, and described multi‑agency coordination that included the Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation, Department of Game, Fish and Parks and local responders. She emphasized that some rescues were executed without aerial support because of hazards to air crews.

Next steps: Noem indicated the state will continue to prioritize emergency preparedness, levee improvements and training; specific budget or program proposals were not introduced during the joint session.