"It's just staggering," said Sen. John Thune.
Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem visited Delmont the day after a tornado ripped through the town, leaving a swath of decimated homes and personal items in its wake. Sen. Mike Rounds did not visit, citing committee commitments in Washington, D.C. Mark Johnston, East River director for Rounds, visited Delmont on the senator's behalf.
Delmont, a town of about 235 people, was still reeling from the force of the twister that struck on Sunday, laying waste to 44 structures and injuring nine people, according to updated numbers officials gave Monday. Those 44 structures are homes and buildings with major damage or that are destroyed and another 12 buildings have minor damage. There were no businesses damaged, but the swath of the storm was plenty for the small town.
"This is something that is going to take all hands on deck," Noem said when she arrived on scene Monday afternoon.
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls said Sunday the storm was an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale used for tornadoes, with peak winds of 130 mph and an estimated path 400 yards wide.
Noem and Thune both discussed the possibility of FEMA assistance, noting that the damages have to reach a certain monetary level before federal assistance can come into play. Thune said it's too soon to tell whether Delmont meets that threshold, but Noem seemed optimistic of the possibility.
"This community's going to need a lot of help," Thune said.
Sunday's response to the tornado was swift, from local and state personnel.
Delmont Fire Chief Elmer Goehring, also a storm spotter, was about a half-mile east of town when he saw the tornado. Born and raised in the area, he's seen tornadoes before—but not the ruin left by this one.
"I've never been up close and personal with this much destruction," he said.
Goehring was in town soon after the twister hit, and said Charles Mix and Douglas County emergency managers arrived just minutes after he did. Because Delmont's emergency vehicles were in the fire hall that collapsed, it could not deploy its own vehicles. Within hours, however, local, regional and state resources had arrived.
The Red Cross had volunteers on scene about an hour after the tornado, and were still there Monday distributing food and drinks. Goehring also said additional help came from Hutchinson County and a slew of volunteer fire departments in the surrounding towns. Goehring described it as a perfect example of the strong working relationship between area fire and EMS crews, and the communities in the area.
"You don't have to beg for help. Help comes without asking," he said.
He and Delmont Mayor Mae Gunnare also praised the state emergency management response and Highway Patrol, which helped organize and coordinate cleanup and relief efforts on the ground Sunday and Monday.
"We've been thankful for all the help the surrounding communities have been," Gunnare said. "It's been a team effort."
Gov. Dennis Daugaard also visited the scene on Sunday, vowing the state would do what it could to support the community as it recovers. Public and weather officials made numerous comparisons, both strength and the type of damage, to the tornado that hit Wessington Springs last year in June. Thune described the scene as "all too familiar."
"It's heartbreaking as always," he said. "You look at this and are grateful there wasn't loss of life. I never cease to be amazed at how powerful these things are and the damage they do."
Getting back on track
South Dakota Department of Public Safety Spokesman Tony Mangan, Mayor Gunnare and other officials stressed safety is still their primary concern. Gunnare said the propane leaks that were an issue Sunday had been resolved by Monday, but officials said there are areas in town they consider unsafe.
To ensure people evacuated Delmont on Sunday night, Gunnare said Highway Patrol and Douglas County patrolled town, with no incidents.
"Thank you," Gunnare added with a smile.
She said the people of the town are doing OK, and are relieved there were no fatalities or life-threatening injuries. Of the nine people injured, seven had been treated and released as of Sunday night.
What's next for rebuilding the town, Gunnare said, is still being determined.
"One step at a time, folks," she said.
During a community meeting Monday night at the Tripp-Delmont school gym in Tripp, NorthWestern Energy Spokesman Tom Glanzer estimated that power would return to part of the city by midday today. The west side of the city will be a long-term project, he said.
"Obviously, from the pictures that you're seeing here, the west side has a lot of work to be done before we can even consider bringing power back to this area," Glanzer said. "Some of them will get back in power sooner than others, but there's some decisions that have to be made first, whether or not they're going to rebuild their homes, so our main focus is to get the backbone of the system repaired."
NorthWestern crews have been working along 401st Street between the town and U.S. Highway 18, trying to repair the main substation that served the community. NorthWestern has more than 30 people working in the city on the downed lines.
"If you look at the path, it ran right through there and then into town," he said. "It helped that we were able to shut things down for [Sunday night], go home and get supplies and then come back and get to work again."
City officials also expected to turn the water back on to the city for homes located in areas with minimal damage.
Tripp-Delmont School Superintendent Gail Swanson said the district will not have school today, as they continue to let the American Red Cross operate out of their gym and commons area. The district will have a half-day of school for the remainder of the week, but Thursday and Friday were already scheduled for half days. Swanson said baccalaureate and graduation exercises for the district's 14 seniors remain on schedule for Saturday at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
"What a life lesson. We've got tragedy and joy," she said, referring to the week and its connection for the district's graduates. "And as a school community, we'll get through it together."
Picking through the remains
Despite Monday's difficult weather conditions, families combed through the storm's wreckage, which extended from a farm a couple of miles south of town into the western part of Delmont's Main Street.
On Seaman Street, a street lined with rubble, a power line wrapped around a fire hydrant amid branches and other debris. Fence panels lay smashed in piles of wood and branches, next to upturned lawnmowers and children's toys. Curtains flapped in the wind, with no protection from the glass that was blown out of windows. Insulation lay scattered through town, while some peeked through the gaping holes left in rooftops of those houses left standing.
Further up Seaman Street, a livestock trailer lay on its side, still chained to the pickup that was pulling it before the tornado hurled it more than a mile. The pickup was upside down and mangled, with a wicker chair embedded into the vehicle bed.
The damage deepens further into town, covering about six blocks from north to south. All throughout the area, power lines snake across roads and weave in and out of fence and tree lines, along with the poles that were snapped and severed during the storm. Trees lay in various states of injury. Some held bits of debris in their branches, from towels and insulation scraps, to large panels of tin. Some were uprooted entirely. Branches and limbs filled the streets and former house lots.
"I'm always amazed by the trees," Noem said. "I'm constantly amazed by the power of Mother Nature."
By Monday afternoon, members of the South Dakota Air National Guard were in town with chainsaws, focused on tree removal. Heavy equipment, much of it volunteered from public and private enterprises, had not been mobilized yet. The city evacuated all residents Sunday due to safety concerns, but let residents and their family members back into town Monday, in order to salvage what they could.
"(Sunday) wasn't about personal property, it was about making sure people were safe," said Goehring.
Today is expected to be similar to Monday, regarding access to the city. Based on the level of damage, Goehring estimated people would need more time to sift through the rubble. He and Gunnare noted that Monday's weather, with temperatures in the 40s and wind speeds blowing around 30 mph, didn't help.
"People are going to tire out quickly today," he said.
Gunnare said she hoped to give citizens as much time as possible to work through their damaged homes and property. Access will be restricted to homeowners and family members.
The mayor said she was in her home's basement when the twister hit, noting the storm sirens went off in town, warning her of the coming danger.
"I believe that's why there were no fatalities," she said of the working sirens.
Her own home missed major damage. She said the tornado caused minor damage to the house's roof, and some damage to the garage.
"We can handle those," she said. "My main concern is my residents."
How to help
Officials also asked people to hold off on non-monetary donations—for now.
"I know people are anxious to volunteer, I know people are anxious to help," said Sandy Frentz, public information officer for the event. "We need them to sit tight for just a minute."
Frentz is part of the Incident Management Assistance Team, based in Pierre, which she said helps shore up local officials and fill in the gaps or give them a break while they respond to emergencies.
"It is still their response," she said.
The Delmont Disaster Relief Fund has been established for monetary donations. Cash donations designated to the Delmont Disaster Relief Fund can be dropped off at First State Bank locations in Delmont, Tripp, Armour and Geddes. Donations can also be mailed to First State Bank, P.O. Box 68, Delmont, S.D., 57330.
Frentz emphasized that relief efforts are limited to monetary donations for now as officials determine the best way to collect and distribute other items.
"We're still assessing what the community needs, and we're still putting together a process to be able to receive any donations," she said. "It's a bit of a process."
Brian Shawn, regional communications officer for the American Red Cross Dakotas Region, echoed that sentiment, saying there is not room for storage for people to donate physical items like clothes or furniture. He said people can also make financial donations to Red Cross Disaster Relief, which he said "will allow us to continue the response efforts and distribute financial assistance so people can purchase what they need, while working with other partners on clothing, furniture and other items." People can donate by visiting redcross.org, texting RED CROSS to 90999 or calling 1-800-REDCROSS.
"The needs of every family are different, so a specialized plan for recovery is key," Shawn said.
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