Meteorologist Todd Hycamp of the National Weather Service spent Monday morning surveying the storm damage in Garretson.  We talked with Todd right after he viewed the area.

"Looking at all the damage across the area and specifically the Garretson area---we probably had 90 to 100 mph winds that went through that area causing so much damage to buildings and to the grain elevator down there."

Todd says recovery will take some time.

"Well it is serious no matter what. I don't want to diminish or minimize the damage that took place. It is a significant impact to the community. They don't have power as of yet. It's going to take awhile for the community to resume normal activity."

Right now, Todd has ruled out a tornado hit Garretson.

"No it was not a tornado. Instead, it was strong straight winds up to 100 mph. Again, that does not minimize the damage. You can just see the power in the strong winds. It was indeed a community that was devastated by a large powerful storm. Many trees were down across the town of Garretson. Many people are picking up the debris. It was definitely a scene of a community recovering from a disaster."

So far, no injuries were reported.

 

 

 

 

Mike Gillispie of the National Weather Service says it is possible a small tornado hit Garretson early Monday morning.

"We had a line of thunderstorms went through this morning. We had a considerable amount of damage in and around Garretson. We are looking at 80 to 100 mile per hour winds with this line of thunderstorms. There is a possibility that it was a small tornado. We have a team from the National Weather Service that is headed out there right now to do a storm survey trying to determine if it was a straight line wind or tornado winds."

Mike says the community suffered a lot of damage.

"Lot of trees down and power lines are down. We are looking at a gas leak. They were doing some evacuations because of the gas leak. We had structure collapse just east of Garretson. We have heard of a few buildings that have sustained some damage."

So far, no injuries have been reported.

Damage reports are coming in from the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls following an early Monday morning storm.  Jenn Hacker is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

"A couple lines of very strong severe thunderstorms moved across Southeast South Dakota and became stronger west of Sioux Falls. We had wind gusts anywhere from 60 to 80 miles per hour. As they moved across to the I-90 corridor,  Behind that line, we got what is called a 'wake low' pressure area. Basically, a little low pressure area developing in the wake of a thunderstorm line. That also produced winds gusts up to 60 to 70 miles per hour.across a large portion of southeast South Dakota. We are getting reports from Brookings down to Sioux Falls and even in Vermillion with winds up to 80 miles per hour."

Jenn says the National Weather Service is getting some reports of damage.

"It looks like maybe the Garretson area was particularly hard hit. We had reports of some gas leaks and power lines down blocking roadways. We are still gathering reports. We don't really have a good handle right now on the extent of the damage."

Jenn says the rest of the day looks quiet!

"Once we get this 'wake low' out of the area and winds start calming down---the rest of the day the rain will be out of here. We are looking to warm up in the low 80's."

Our News Gathering Partner KDLT says Metro Communications has confirmed that people in Garretson are being advised to stay in their homes after the storm moved through the area. Earlier reports indicate structures in the Garretson area may  have been damaged and a command post is being set up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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