Tornadoes and Flash Floods Strike Northeastern South Dakota

Temperatures in northeastern South Dakota and adjacent portions of Minnesota were shaken on Saturday night by a severe weather outbreak, which included tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding. Towns such as Clear Lake, Gary, and Canby were lucky enough to escape the direct impact of tornadoes, but vibration from the storm has left a trail of worry, destruction, and gratitude in their wake.

Can be a Frightening and Disturbing Night

For members of the community like Curtis Mulder, the storm was a memory, an event that will undoubtedly be a memory for him and his family and will always be emphasized with them because Mulder and his family were at their cabin on Lake Cochrane when the twisters hit.

It was like something out of the movie Twister, or The Wizard of Oz," said Mulder. "The tornado looked to be about a mile away, and it was massive. I couldn't sleep. I haven't even eaten today."

Numerous tornadoes were spotted in the region, and a lot of people were awaiting word about the weather, completely on edge. Many of the residents did not even know whether or not they were going to be in the direct line of tornadoes until the very end.

Gary Residents Seek Shelter as Sirens Sound

Gary, South Dakota, was just as bad off. Under a tornado, heavy rain, and hailstorms. And, a flash flood warning was coming at night as the storm was getting worse. Long-time resident Sara Guest, who works at Buffalo Ridge Resort and Spa, said she has lived in the area for over 30 years and has never seen anything like it.

“I never want to go through something like that again,” she said nervously, laughing.

When the tornado sirens went off, the Buffalo Ridge Resort became a shelter. Around 100 people, who made up families, children, seniors, and pets, took cover in the dining room and its underground tunnels.

“We tried to keep everyone calm. The tunnels were great because they were safe, quiet, and roomy,” the Guest said.

The Power of Community in Times of Crisis

Buffalo Ridge’s owner, Patricia Fields, explained that although she did not see a tornado personally, her niece did see it. She’ll never forget the crazy lightning, booming thunder, and golf ball-sized hail.

“It was a serious storm. We were lucky to have a place to shelter that many people,” Fields said.

As dawn approached on Sunday, residents went outside to assess the damage. Road after road was underwater, fields had turned into temporary lakes, and flooding in areas halted travel and local events (e.g., the Crystal Springs Rodeo was postponed).

Storm Damage and Close Calls Near Highway 22

While most communities escaped a direct hit, there were a few that weren't so lucky. On the northern edges of Clear Lake, in the area of Highway 22 and 484th Avenue, two homes received very bad tornado damage.

There was a house which was empty at the the time of tornadoes and storms, but the house was having a big hole in its roof, downed trees, and bad outdoor structure. Luckily, no one was harmed but house was not so lucky and it was destroyed which also injured a man inside the house.

Community Support and a Grateful Heart

While the storm was destroying everything and making things critical, most of the people were thankful and stayed strong. Neighbors, friends, and even strangers were together to fight from the disaster, they all came together to fix things, and make sure everyone was okay.

"You just pray that everyone is going to be okay," said Mulder. "And it sounds like they are, so we count our blessings."

The Deuel County Sheriff's Office provided updates through social media to relay information on the storm damage, while reminding residents to provide plenty of space for emergency responder crews who were operating throughout the affected area.

Looking Ahead with Hope

As recovery starts, the citizens of Clear Lake, Gary, and Canby will recognize that it could have been worse. With no fatalities, the area is taking one deep breath. But the storm taught a lesson that how powerfull it can be and and how important it is to be prepared.

Conclusion

During this tornado, communities in Northern South Dakota showed strength and courage towards the tornadoes, flash floods, and damaging winds. Storms affecte more the tornades as there was a destructive lighting, but there wasn’t any big accident happened. We are thankful for our good attitude toward death and how quickly community members reacted. This storm will long be remembered, not just for the nature of the event, but for how many neighbors were kind and willing to help, when we were most vulnerable.