What started out as a scary situation quickly turned into a test of one community’s bond and willingness to help one another. On Saturday, August 28th around 4:30 P.M. a tornado, fierce winds, and heavy rain made their way into the area of Lennox, SD. This was the first tornado reported in the city of Lennox in 20 years. The storm came upon us quickly, aggressively, and recklessly! Many residents had no idea a tornado was even predicted or even a possibility. The south side of Lennox truly received the brunt of the storm as it ripped off roofs, damaged homes, and uprooted trees creating an overall mess throughout the area. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.
Watching the cleanup and witnessing the people of Lennox and surrounding communities come together for one worthy cause, reversing the damage done to the city, was a heartwarming experience. Many residents were faced with the challenges of removing downed trees and making temporary fixes to roofs before the next round of rain came. The biggest challenge was having no power. The city landfill was one big sloppy mess and inaccessible for larger trucks and trailers. Gene Kuper allowed use of his land as a temporary drop site for trees, so the cleanup process went much quicker and smoother. As one community resident stated, “It was friends helping friends, neighbors helping neighbors and, strangers helping strangers.” Many people came from other towns just to help by clearing and cutting trees, picking up debris, repairing damage to structures, and providing meals to volunteers. Two middle school girls were even seen delivering lemonade and snacks to Xcel Energy workers and volunteers.
At about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night the power was restored in the City of Lennox. As lights turned on, air conditioner units started to run, and refrigerators hummed again, there was a collective sigh of relief across the city. The community came together as "#Lennox Strong".
A huge thank you to all the residents of Lennox, kind volunteers, Xcel Energy, and surrounding communities for their part in restoring faith in humanity.
by Cole Denning