McCook County Emergency Management — preparedness, floodplain, 911 & public safety for Salem, Bridgewater, Canistota, Montrose, Spencer & our townships.
BURN BAN: Open burning is banned when the NWS Grassland Fire Danger Index is Very High or Extreme, or during a Red Flag Warning. Notify EM or Mitchell 911 before you burn.
SIRENS: Mitchell 911 sounds all county outdoor warning sirens automatically for any tornado warning for McCook County. Tests: first Friday monthly at 10 a.m., April–September. The county owns the Lake Vermillion siren.
Live conditions: see the McCook Weather station above. Quick links: Open Burning | Text-to-911 | Contact
Fire & Burning
Weather
Forms & Permits
Same Form for Sign Replacement
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Current Road Conditions
GET HELP — Emergency: call 911 (or Text-to-911 if you cannot speak). Mitchell Regional 911 non-emergency: (605) 995-8400. McCook County EM office: 605-425-2085 | cell 605-421-8392 | mcems2@triotel.net. Call 911 for any life-threatening emergency, fire or crash; contact EM for planning, floodplain, addressing and preparedness questions.
FLOODPLAIN / NFIP — The EM Director serves as Floodplain Administrator. Any development in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) requires a Floodplain Development Permit (see Flood Plain Permit PDF above). Ordinance 2025-01 adopts the FIS/FIRMs effective March 11, 2025 (signed ordinance at mccookcountysd.gov).
STORMREADY — McCook County is a NWS StormReady county: we maintain warning systems, 24-hour warning points, weather monitoring and community preparedness programs.
MITIGATION — Our FEMA-approved Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan (through February 2030) covers McCook County plus Bridgewater, Canistota, Montrose, Salem and Spencer. See the Documents page.
BE PREPARED — Winter: check SafeTravel SD before you travel. Severe season: know the sirens, keep a NOAA Weather Radio and enable Wireless Emergency Alerts. See the Be Prepared page.
RURAL ADDRESSING Need a new or replacement 911 address sign? Use the same 911 Address Form above.
COUNTY PARTNERS — Sheriff Mark Norris 605-425-2761 | Auditor Geralyn Sherman 605-425-2791 | Planning & Zoning Anna Flogstad 605-425-2681 | Drainage Steve Dick 605-425-2080 | Highway Travis Raap 605-425-2731