Likely Tornado Hits Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Severe weather, including a probable tornado, 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. 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 the state just before midnight Tuesday. There were no reports of deaths. Sioux Falls, with an estimated population of 187,200, is about 240 miles (386.kilometers) southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota. National Weather Service lead meteorologist Todd Heitkamp in Sioux Falls says surveyors will work to confirm whether a tornado caused the damage. Heitkamp says most damage likely was caused by strong straight-line winds. Sioux Falls 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 Aver...
Source: JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services News - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: News AP News Tag Source Type: news