A powerful storm packing heavy rain, hail, and one-hundred mile per hour winds tore through Sioux Falls this afternoon leaving much destruction in its path.
Sioux Falls Emergency Manager Reagan Smith says most areas of the city suffered at least some damage – he says officials are in response mode.
“We’re seeing a lot of street flooding, manhole covers off, we’re seeing some power outage issues with our city municipal light system, we’ve seen a few light poles down so we’re working to address those, a street light pole or two down, and just numerous fire alarm calls – systems that were tripped by the lightning,”says Smith
Smith says low-lying areas around Sioux Falls are experiencing flooding while most of the power outages are in the northern part of the city. Smith is urging residents not to drive on flooded streets, to report any missing manhole covers to the street department, and to not dump sump pumps into the sanitary sewer system.