Storm damage: Business updates following Sioux Falls tornadoes
Sept. 11, 2019
Businesses in the heart of Sioux Falls’ retail corridor were hit most heavily by three tornadoes and severe weather that struck Sioux Falls Sept. 10.
The retail center that includes The Original Pancake House, Pizza Ranch and Tuesday Morning at 41st Street and Kiwanis Avenue sustained some of the heaviest damage from an EF-2 tornado.
Those businesses are closed today, and some likely will take awhile before they can return to operation.
That includes The Rush, which said on Facebook the tornado “has managed to destroy The Rush. Hopefully we can pick up the pieces and rebuild. Thank goodness our staff and customers all made it safely.”
Pizza Ranch also reported severe damage.
“We will be closed for business until we are able to fully assess the damage,” it said. “We apologize to any customers that have placed orders or were planning on dining with us in near the future. We will do our best to keep our guest posted on our plans for reopening.”
Other businesses were damaged along 41st Street east of Kiwanis.
Advance Auto Parts at 2601 W. 41st St. was among the most severely hit, with much of the structure gone. These photos and video are courtesy of Derek Thompson (www.derekjt.com).
The Western Mall also had reported damage at Best Buy, and All Day Cafe and neighboring TapHouse 41 are closed. The Western Mall branch of The First National Bank in Sioux Falls is closed temporarily, though it only had minor damage. Nearby, RedRossa Napoli Pizza is closed while crews assess damage.
On the northwest corner of 41st and Western Avenue, the former North American Auto Sales property was damaged. (Photo by Novak Sanitary Service)
Near 69th Street and Louise Avenue, the Avera Behavioral Health Center experienced roof and window damage from another EF-2 tornado. All staff are safe and accounted for. All patients are safe, but two of them sustained non-life threatening injuries from the storm damage. Thirty-three patients were transferred to Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center. Families who want to contact their patient can call 605-322-8000.
The Avera Heart Hospital also experienced damage to the lobby, and windows were broken. All patients are safe.
The North Central Heart Clinic, Avera Medical Group Midwest Psychiatry Medicine and Avera Medical Group University Psychiatry Associates will be closed today.
“Avera has had a number of facilities that have severe damage,” said Dave Flicek, president and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital.
“We talk at our hospital about doing drills. I’ve got to tell you, our staff was courageous. They had 10 minutes to wake up 102 residents, get them to the center of the building, and all our safe and sound, so we’re very pleased with that.”
Flicek estimated the Avera Behaviorial Health Center will take three to six months to reopen.
“We’re going to have to figure out how to handle our behavioral health patients,” he said. “Some will stay on campus at Avera McKennan. But we’re working with state officials right now to help us with the logistics of what we’re going to do there. It was a long night, and I’ve got to tell you our staff was fabulous, courageous. They did what they’re supposed to do. They stayed calm, and they did a great job for our patients.”
The Avera Heart Hospital canceled elective procedures and clinic appointments Wednesday to focus on getting the building ready to take patients as soon as Thursday and be in full operation by the middle of next week.
“We never stopped treating emergencies last night,” president Mick Gibbs said. “In the middle of the tornado, we had a patient who had a severe cardiac event and had his life saved right in the middle of the tornado.”
Journey Group came to the hospital in the middle of the night to ready it for repairs today, he said, and Landscape Garden Centers and Kut and Kill had the parking lot cleared before midmorning.
“Our staff had their vehicles destroyed. Our physicians had their vehicles destroyed while they were saving lives last night,” he said. “There’s no better testimony to selflessness.”
The corporate office near the heart and behavioral health hospitals also is “out of commission,” Flicek said.
Power has been restored on the main campus on Cliff Avenue allowing Avera Prairie Center and Plaza 1 clinics to open as usual.
The Avera Sports Dome at 1601 W. 44th Place sustained damage in the path of what was determined to be one of three EF-2 tornadoes to hit the city.
Sanford Health is not reporting any major damage, and its national campus in southwest Sioux Falls is open for business.
On the east side, Handy Man Home Remodeling Center suffered considerable damage.
“We lost the ‘tower’ on the southeast side of the building. It came crashing in and destroyed a section of the store. We also lost some large windows and pieces of the roof,” the business said on Facebook.
“Thank you to all of our family, friends, and employees that spent their day picking up debris. It will be a long time before we get everything back together again.”
The store at 910 E. 10th St. will remain closed for now. Customers can pick up orders by calling 605-334-9600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Baan Dek Montessori sustained damage to the roof. One room is closed but the center is open.
It’s located at 85th Street and Western Avenue, where the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down at 11:24 p.m. Tuesday.
Lloyd Cos. is reporting damage to several of its apartment communities, especially on the west side. There are garage doors caved in at the Royal Oak apartments, 3130 W. 57th St., broken windows and water leaks at the Woodlake Apartments, 4008 S. Louise Ave., and roof damage at multiple properties.
“As we survey the devastation in our community, Lloyd Cos. wants to extend our appreciation to our residents and tenants who are dealing with loss across the community. We are responsible for thousands of homes affected by this storm and many businesses. We assure each of our residents and tenants that just as we are there in the good times, we are here for you now,” it said in a statement.
Residents and commercial tenants are asked to call 605-323-2820 with any issues.
“We also thank the first responders who are aiding in the recovery efforts as well as the men and women of our utility companies and the city staff out working around the clock to restore power and order to our world,” the company said.
Elsewhere around town, businesses are dealing with exterior damage including downed signs and debris. (Photo by Derek Thompson)
Several businesses, many along 41st Street, are without electricity and are closed.
We will update this story as the recovery evolves. Email [email protected] with business updates and photos from the storm.
