RAPID CITY, SD – The Rapid City Air Quality Office is advising residents of Rapid City and the surrounding Black Hills to take precautions today due to increasing wind speeds that are stirring up dust particles and impacting air quality across South Dakota.
City Environmental Planner Morgan Twombly recommends that at-risk individuals-including the elderly, young children, and those with existing respiratory issues-minimize outdoor activity and avoid excessive physical exertion. While these groups are most susceptible to health impacts, the office suggests everyone take steps to avoid exposure to the poor air quality conditions.
The office also advises the public to cease or minimize any manipulation of soils during these high-wind events. Furthermore, Twombly said it is recommended that “process equipment, waste pits, stockpiles, and construction sites be stabilized via watering or chemical treatments to increase pollution control.”
Residents seeking to check current dust concentrations and air quality can find hourly data on the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources website. Users can view concentrations by navigating to the “Access the Real Time Air Quality Map” link on the department’s web page at https://danr.sd.gov/Environment/AirQuality/AirMonitoring/RealTimeData.aspx.