Power back for many; S. Dakotans dig out

Still some problems from this week’s blizzard. (Understatement alert!)

Tens of thousands of South Dakotans remain without electricity today in the aftermath of a widespread winter storm that ripped down power lines and snapped at least 8,000 poles.

Gov. Mike Rounds said during a conference call Tuesday evening that 40,000 electric company customers lost power. Because many of those were families, the actual number of affected people was much higher.

Restoring electricity will be a long process. “Repair crews will be working 18-hour shifts,” Rounds said. “One hundred semi-loads of poles, minimum, need to be brought in.” The governor said the storm affected 10,000 miles of power lines and sapped electricity from about 100 communities.