Wessington Springs, S.D., Tornado
Photos by Joe Ahlquist
On Wednesday, June 18, 2014, an EF-2 tornado tore through the small South Dakota town of Wessington Springs. There were no serious injuries because of warnings well in advance of the tornado. Multiple severe storms, heavy rain, floods and other tornados in other parts of the state led up to the tornado in Wessington Springs. As many as 25 homes in the town were left uninhabitable after the tornado, and hundreds of volunteers and residents of the town descended upon Wessington Springs on June 19 to help clean up the town.
Ward Barber assesses the damage to what is left of his home and property on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Kevin Thompson, who lives outside of Wessington Springs, picks up around his mother's home on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Volunteers line up at the Wessington Springs Elementary School to help clean up tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tim Holzwarth points to an area where he thinks a roll of duct tape that he found came from while assessing the damage to his house and property on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Quinten Christensen (center), 10, takes a quick break while helping friends clean up on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage at Springs Auto on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
A helicopter flies over tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
A man works to take down a tree while cleaning up tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Erica Keyser cleans up what remains of her grandmother, Maggie Doering's house on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard speaks as the South Dakota Army National Guard arrives in the background just before midnight on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, about a tornado that tore through the area in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Damaged vehicles at Springs Auto after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in Wessington Springs, S.D.
South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard speaks to emergency personnel just before midnight on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Quinten Christensen, 10, helps friends clean up on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.
Tornado damage on Thursday, June 19, 2014, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday in Wessington Springs, S.D.