Flooded roads in downtown Bismarck

BISMARCK, N.D. ( KXNET ) — Tuesday night, Bismarck had significant rainfall that flooded roadways and even closed a few businesses.

The City of Bismarck officials warned residents to refrain from driving through flooded streets. Rain amounts varied throughout Bismarck, with some areas reporting totals of nearly four inches north of the State Capitol grounds, and 2.75 inches in north Bismarck. This was all over a short duration of less than an hour.

“The large amount of rainfall Bismarck received today has caused a variety of problems
for people throughout Bismarck,” said City of Bismarck Public Works Utility Operations
Director, Michelle Klose in a press release. “We are recommending that people do not try to drive through moving or standing water. It can take as little as just a few inches of water to cause a vehicle to lose control on a flooded street or induce an engine stall. We are also asking for your patience with our storm water systems. This system is designed to handle a certain rain intensity. When the rain has a greater intensity, this causes an overload to the system and the roadways become the conduit to move storm water,” said Klose.

Burleigh County assisted Bismarck by starting the Tavis pump station and moved water from the city’s south drainage ditch to the Missouri River.

For more information on the City’s storm water system, you can visit their website here .

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