Sept. 20, 2025:
The “No Travel” advisory is still in place in rural Stanley County.
The Stanley County Sheriff’s Office says several roads are still not passable because of flooding, damage caused by flooding or both. Public Safety Officials will continue to monitor the roads and will lift the “No Travel” advisory when it’s safe to do so.
Also, the emergency shelter at the Expo Center in Fort Pierre has been closed because flood waters in Stanley County are receding. Public Safety Officials will continue to monitor the area and, if needed, the shelter will be reopened.
Bad River flowing through Fort Pierre, SD. Sept. 20, 2025, at 9:15am CT.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Bad River flowing through Fort Pierre, SD. Sept. 20, 2025, at 9:15am CT.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Bad River flowing through Fort Pierre, SD. Sept. 20, 2025, at 9:15am CT.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Sept. 19, 2025, update:
A “No Travel” advisory continues in Stanley County after several days in a row of rain has saturated the soils and roadways.
Sheriff Brad Rathbun says pretty much every gravel road is restricted to local traffic only.
Humans are naturally curious creatures, but Rathbun is asking people to NOT try to drive around in Stanley County to look at the flooding.
The Bad River, which runs through Fort Pierre, picks up water from a few tributaries and a basin area that extends roughly 100 miles west to the Wall, SD, area.
An emergency shelter is available at the Expo Center in Fort Pierre for Stanley County residents who have been displaced by recent flooding. To access the shelter, contact the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office through the Central South Dakota Dispatch Center at 605-773-7410, then ask to speak to a Stanley County Deputy. They will assist you with the entry process and provide any necessary guidance.
This initiative is a joint effort between Stanley County, the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and the Hughes/Stanley County Emergency Management Office, dedicated to supporting their community through the crisis.
For updated road condition information for all of South Dakota,
-
make a free call to 511
-
use the SD511 mobile app
-
go to www.DRGnews.com, click on Weather, then click on the blue SD511 button.
Flooding 23 miles west of Fort Pierre in Stanley County on Bad River Road. Photo taken the morning of Sept. 18, 2025.
Photo courtesy of the Stanley County Highway Department.
Flooding in Stanley County on Bad River Road. Photo taken the morning of Sept. 18, 2025.
Photo courtesy of the Stanley County Highway Department.
Flooding n War Creek Road in Stanley County. Photo taken Sept. 19, 2025.
Photo courtesy of the Stanley County Highway Department.
Sept. 19, 2025:
An emergency shelter has been set up at the Expo Center in Fort Pierre for Stanley County residents who have been displaced by recent flooding.
To access the shelter, contact the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office through the Central South Dakota Dispatch Center at 605-773-7410, then ask to speak to a Stanley County Deputy. They will assist you with the entry process and provide any necessary guidance.
The expected peak of the Bad River was at 1:00 AM on 9/19/25, reaching 24.5 feet. Remember, flooding can be very dangerous. Stay away from moving water, avoid driving through flooded areas, and follow all local authority warnings.
This initiative is a joint effort between Stanley County, the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and the Hughes/Stanley County Emergency Management Office, dedicated to supporting their community through the crisis.
Bad River flowing through Fort Pierre, SD. Sept. 19, 2025, at 7am CT.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Bad River flowing through Fort Pierre, SD. Sept. 19, 2025, at 7am CT.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Bad River flowing through Fort Pierre, SD. Sept. 19, 2025, at 7am CT.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Bad River flowing through Fort Pierre, SD. Sept. 19, 2025, at 7am CT.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Sept. 17, 2025:
No travel is advised in Stanley County because of localized flooding.
Emergency Manager AJ Rounds says several parts of Bad River Road and other gravel roads are temporarily flooding in one or more places.
For updated road condition information for Stanley County and all of South Dakota,
- make a free call to 511
- use the SD511 mobile app
- go to www.sd511.org
This has never happened in the last 45 years,as kids we drug axles down county roads going home from school, the county ne er closed roads, sounds like its time to get a new road crew, work 6 days a week like they use too or hope for a commission tgat had some common sense or a pair!!!