MEMORANDUM

DUHAMEL BROADCASTING ENTERPRISES KOTA RADIO I KOTA TV • KDUH TV • KHSD TV 

GENERAL OFFICES P. O. BOX 1752 

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA 57701 

To: Mrs. Helen S. Duhamel

From: Robb De Wall

Date JUNE 14~ 1972 

Re: 

SEQUENCE & TIMES OF OUR FIRST RADIO & TV BULLETINS THE EVENNOF FRIDAY, 6/9/72 IN ADVANCE OF THE RAPID CITY FLOOD 



I have cOmpiled the following sequence of events because I was alone in the newsroom until after 9:00 P.M. on the evening of the flood, and therefore, made all the decisions on what  

we would run and how strongly it would be worded. Also, I do not believe the special bulletIns were logged on either radio or TV. I compiled my list of times from my best recollection on Monday, 6/12/72. I also had noted the time on several of the important calls that evening, and I kept most of my notes. Between 6:45 and 10:00 P.M., all bulletins were crawled on TV 

in continual rotation with previous bulletins.

All were used on radio very frequently

 

Approx: 
6:15 P.M. State Police Radio announcing closing of Boulder Canyon due to heavy rain and eight to ten Inches of water at Sturgis end (used only on radio initially) 

(6:30 I returned from supper) 

6:45 P.M. Boulder Canyon news bulletin crawled on TV 

7:10 P.M. Weather Bulletin: Flash flood warning for Northern Hills from Spearfish Canyon to Little Elk Creek In Piedmont area. Campers advised to take to high ground (this came from Weather Bureau, and tape of their warning was used on radio).

7:15 P.M. No travel advised Rimrock Highway from Rapid to Pactola or on Nemo Road from Rapid City due to heavy rain. 

Approx:
8:00 P.M. Rapid Creek and Box Elder Creek added to flash flood warning (official from Weather Bureau). 

Approx: 
8:30 	  We added to the above that Rapid Creek was reported to be up three-to-four feet (I felt we had substantial unofficial information to add this, although we never had this from any official source). 

10:00 P.M. "Live" wrap-up of the developing situation as top story in the 10;00 O'Clock News Block (copy attached). 

10:10 P.M. Rapid City Police warning that possible serious flooding could develope in Brookdale Mobile Homes Estates on Rapid Creek on Campbell (i live" in local news Just after warning was issued). 

Approx:
10:49 P.M. (STRIKETHROUGH TIME)

(10:39:50) Mayor's evacuation statement to all persons throughout the city living adjacent to Rapid Creek (read on AM-TV immediately).