SOUTH DAKTOA – Unprecedented attendance and media interest highlighted the split search and rescue exercise Jan. 12-13 held in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. In Sioux Falls, a record 53 members from the Big Sioux and Sioux Falls composite squadrons participated in the exercise, which also attracted coverage from all three local commercial TV news stations – KDLT, the NBC affiliate; CBS affiliate KELO; and KSFY, the ABC statation – and the state’s largest daily newspaper, the Argus Leader.

NORTH DAKOTA – When spring finally arrives to North Dakota, two things seem assured: flooding from snowmelt and the North Dakota Wing’s heavy involvement in the local, state and federal response to that flooding. The spring of 2011 has been much the same as the springs of 2009 and 2010 in this northern plains state – too much water from too much snow in too many places affecting too many people. The 1997 flooding on the Red River of the North, which flows north instead of south from near the South Dakota border to Lake Winnipeg, reached historic proportions for Grand Forks, Fargo, Moorhead, Minn., and other communities.

NORTH DAKOTA -- Members of the North and South Dakota wings had the opportunity Sunday to meet with U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry when she visited the air operations branch of the State Emergency Operations Center after a tour of flooding in North Dakota. The branch, up the stairs and across a couple hallways from the operations center in Bismarck, is where Civil Air Patrol members, a contingent of active-duty and auxiliary Coast Guard members and state and federal officials coordinate airplanes and helicopters, as well as airboats and rescue boats. North Dakota is in the midst of another springtime battle against flood waters across the state.

SOUTH DAKOTA — What do you do when your squadron is spending the day training, when suddenly reality — in the form of floodwaters — intrudes? You turn the wet reality into part of the training. At least, that’s exactly what the Sioux Falls Composite Squadron did Sept. 25 while holding a search and rescue exercise that had been scheduled for months.

NORTH DAKOTA – Cadets and senior members from six wings as far away at the Atlantic Coast are participating in a joint North and South Dakota encampment featuring the theme of leadership and honor guard. The encampment head count at Camp Graft in Devils Lake stands at 84 – 68 cadets and 16 senior members from the North and South Dakota, Colorado Minnesota, Nebraska and Virginia wings. A Civil Air Patrol encampment is similar to basic training for the military. Cadet leaders who have progressed through the ranks by testing in leadership, aerospace education, physical conditioning and review boards actually run the encampment. Supervision comes from senior members, including clerical duties, leadership input and medical support.

SOUTH DAKOTA – Since March 16 the South Dakota Wing has been flying over flooded areas of the state and taking geographically tagged aerial photographs of ice jams and flood damage for the state’s Office of Emergency Management. “During last year's spring flooding, we impressed the South Dakota Office of Emergency Management with our capabilities,” said Col. Teresa Schimelfening, wing commander. “This year we were asked for our help again.”

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Since March 16 Civil Air Patrol’s South Dakota Wing, in its role as an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, has been performing overflights of flooded areas of the state and taking geographically tagged aerial photographs of ice jams and flood damage for the state’s Office of Emergency Management. The wing answers the state’s requests by dispatching three-person aircrews from its fleet of single-engine Cessna 172s and 182 stationed across the state.