Storms in South Dakota produced dangerous tornadoes, which did a number on homes and businesses in the area. One town that suffered massive damage was Wessington Springs, South Dakota. According to Jerauld County State Attorney Dedrich Koch, per InForum?, the storms managed to damage 43 homes, 26 of which are now uninhabitable, and 12 businesses.
Koch said that those numbers may actually be higher, but the city is not fully sure of the extent of the damage yet. Melissa Mebius, mayor of Wessington Springs, said these storms have greatly affected the area.
“There are a lot more houses that no one is going to be able to live in for quite a while,” Mebius said. “It’s going to take our community pulling together, because there’s a lot of damage and we’re definitely going to have to come together.”
Three businesses were destroyed when the storms hit. Those stores included an auto repair shop, an American Legion building and a local bar. Koch said that even after the city moves large chunks of debris, it could be awhile before the clean up is completed.
“But then we’re going to be cleaning up little stuff for quite a while,” Koch said.
When a disaster like a tornado occurs, business owners and cities could be picking up the pieces for some time. This could take a massive amount of effort and money to complete. Shop owners that want to financially prepare themselves in case a situation like this occurs can sign up for small business insurance. This coverage can help fund needed repairs and reimburse losses for damaged merchandise.
