HIGHMORE (S.D.) — Strong storms ripped through portions of central and eastern South Dakota early Monday morning, leaving roofs torn off homes, vehicles tipped over, grain bins caved in and wind turbine towers folded in half.
The National Weather Service received reports of wind gusts as high as 131 miles per hour in and near the small town of Highmore, where electricity was knocked out and much of the worst damage occurred. The service also received reports of tornadoes near Pierpont and Andover.
Matthew Cappucci, a meteorologist, wrote for The Washington Post that the 131 mph gusts “may be the strongest straight-line thunderstorm gusts directly measured since Aug. 1, 1983″ in Maryland, where a gust was measured at 149.5 mph.
Gov. Larry Rhoden visited Highmore later Monday. Officials are surveying the damage, in preparation for a 30-day window to apply for federal assistance. To qualify for federal aid, a storm in South Dakota must cause at least $1.8 million in damage to public property, Rhoden said.
“And so we’ll continue to assess that, whether there’s enough to qualify for an emergency declaration, but in the meantime, it doesn’t matter,” Rhoden told reporters. “We are, as a state, making use of any resources we can to lend to the city to help with their cleanup.”
The Governor’s Office said minor injuries to people had been reported.
State officials were posted throughout the town of about 650 residents Monday to direct traffic and help coordinate the response. The South Dakota Highway Patrol, Department of Transportation, Department of Game, Fish and Parks, and nine inmates were part of that effort.
Brittany Kerr, 38, is a lifelong Highmore resident. She had never seen such severe storm damage.
“By 6 o’clock, it was very loud and just kind of almost sounded like a freight train coming through,” she said. “I heard glass breaking and I could tell that trees or something fell into my house.”
Kerr, who works in health care, helped evacuate dozens of residents from the nursing home in town. Her sister lent a hand in the cleanup on Kerr’s property, which had uprooted trees and visible damage to the house. Throughout town, neighbors and emergency response teams helped residents remove broken tree limbs, downed trees and other debris from yards and roadways.
“In times like this, we’re fortunate to live in an agricultural community where people can provide equipment and people are ready to work and help others,” Kerr said. “And for the damage we sustained, I would say the town is cleaning up rather quickly.”
Highmore was under a no-travel order Monday. Power lines were down and many roadways were blocked by fallen trees and debris.
Another round of storms was possible in the area again overnight, according to the National Weather Service, including threats of hail and wind.
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