Several Strong Tornadoes Hit Sioux Falls, Leaving Trail Of Damage
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP/WCCO) — Several strong tornadoes struck South Dakota's largest city, leaving a trail of damaged buildings, downed power lines, fallen trees and some reports of injuries, officials said Wednesday.
The National Weather Service says that a morning damage survey indicated that an EF-2 tornado hit the city, with winds as strong as 125 mph.
Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the NWS confirmed two more EF-2 tornadoes. One hit the Avera Health Complex with winds up to 130 mph, injuring eight people. The third tornado impacted southern Sioux Falls and had wind speeds up to 125 mph, the NWS said.
Here is a look at all three tornado tracks across Sioux Falls from Tuesday night.
Additional surveys are expected to continue into Thursday. pic.twitter.com/vW5qAnrglG
— NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) September 11, 2019
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Fire Chief Brad Goodroad said at an early morning news conference that at least 37 structures collapsed in Sioux Falls or have structural issues after the storm rolled through the city in the eastern part of South Dakota just before midnight Tuesday. There were no reports of deaths.
Sioux Falls, with an estimated population of 187,200, is about 240 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Area schools delayed classes Wednesday as crews worked to clear debris, and city officials in Sioux Falls urged people to stay off the streets until 8 a.m.
Mayor Paul TenHaken said the city was looking into a "breach of protocol" with its outdoor siren warning system. TenHaken said most of the sirens sounded in the southwest part of the city, where the most serious damage occurred, but the system is supposed to sound sirens citywide.
Among the buildings damaged was Avera Behavioral Health. The storm ripped off part of the hospital's roof and caused significant damage to the building's windows, according to Avera spokeswoman Michelle Pellman.
"Seven Behavioral Health patients have been transferred to the Avera Heart Hospital," Pellman said. "Only one patient suffered an injury and it was non-life threatening."
The Avera Heart Hospital also had damage to its lobby and windows, but all patients are safe, Pellman told the Argus Leader. She said people should stay away from the area because of flooding and debris concerns.
Other damaged businesses included an Advanced Auto Parts store where a wall collapsed. Kohl's and Best Buy lost part of their roofs and Pizza Ranch suffered heavy damage.
Xcel Energy says as many as 25,000 customers were without power at one point because of the damage, but that number dropped about 2,100 customers by 6:30 a.m.
The Red Cross opened a shelter at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds' armory for people displaced by the storm.
The National Weather Service warned of possible severe thunderstorms Wednesday across the Plains and Upper Midwest, stretching from western Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa to Wisconsin.
Here's some more #storm #damage photos from #SiouxFalls, #SouthDakota after a nocturnal #tornado on 10 September 2019. #SDwx pic.twitter.com/50QIN5AuhJ
— Derek Thompson (@DerekjT1003) September 11, 2019
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
