Codington County Emergency Management Highlights Drone Storm Surveys, Fire Response, and Firefighter Grants

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County Emergency Management Director Andrew Delgado delivered a monthly report to county commissioners, outlining advanced technological damage surveys, specialized industrial fire responses, and key funding opportunities for rural volunteer firefighters.

Delgado walked commissioners through the department’s deployment during recent severe spring weather events that prompted localized outdoor warning sirens across outlying towns. Following reports of a potential touchdown, Emergency Management sent specialized drone assets to conduct flight surveys north of Henry.

“Weather Service said there might have been some weak rotation in the area just east of Henry,” Delgado explained, referencing the precision search grid. “There was a law enforcement from Clark County who reported seeing something touchdown... but we didn’t see any indication of it there. They think it either was just a brief touchdown, or maybe a little ‘dustnado’ where the leading edge of the storm kicks up some winds.”

Hazardous Material Tracking and Public Safety Outreach

The past month also required critical field responses to an active commercial transportation fire involving hazardous cargo. Delgado’s team documented the containment area, routing specialized mapping and chemical run-off logs directly to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) and the State Office of Emergency Management to safeguard local groundwater tables.

Delgado hosted an educational seminar for the local Leadership Watertown class at the search and rescue complex, giving civic leaders an up-close look at the county’s specialized disaster equipment.

Additionally, his office conducted an emergency preparedness workshop for a regional babysitting certification course at the county extension building, educating young residents on emergency contingencies.

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Fire Department Grant Funding and Long-Term Resiliency

Delgado closed by briefing commissioners on South Dakota Senate Bill 136, a key piece of state legislation that allocates $5 million for volunteer firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE). Emergency Management has routed application guidelines to all area fire districts, ensuring local entities with at least 70% volunteer rosters can access these infrastructure safety shields.

Simultaneously, long-term structural shielding remains a priority, with Delgado collaborating with the Watertown City Engineer on localized infrastructure projects designed to compete for the federal 2026 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant window.