WAPA crews spin up for South Dakota tornado response

An EF-2 tornado’s trail of destruction Aug. 28 laid waste to crops and farmland across northern portions of South Dakota, pelting the region with large hail and damaging winds. The tornado also forced crews from Western Area Power Administration’s Upper Great Plains region to mobilize in an effort to keep the lights on for thousands. 

With the storm’s passage, confirmation of damage to WAPA’s Bismarck-Glenham 230-kilovolt line became apparent. Four steel lattice structures spanning roughly one mile along the transmission line sustained damage from the more than 115-miles-per-hour winds, destroying three completely, while leaving one standing, though badly marred. 

The damage was estimated at $1.3 million.  

A little over 100 miles away, crews from UGP’s Bismarck office were activated and sent south to the damaged line located west of Mound City. Dusty Peterson, a foreman based in Bismarck, was the first to arrive on scene. 

“We pulled up to examine the extent of the damage and that’s when we saw three towers down, and one that was still standing, but buckled,” Peterson recalled. “With any storm, everything is in a bind and a lot more dangerous.” 

Crews got to work documenting materials needed to get the transmission lines operational and deploying necessary equipment to complete the work. Peterson said all materials and equipment requests were in by Aug. 29, and arrived less than 24 hours later.

“Hinton [crews] brought their excavator with sheers,” Peterson said, highlighting equipment from WAPA’s facility in Iowa. “It saved time and added another level of safety to clear a tower – without people being next to bent and broken steel that’s under tension.” 

With equipment and materials in place, crews worked 12-hour shifts to repair the damage, placing temporary structures to carry the 230-kV power north to south. With about 20 personnel on site, Peterson, a 16-year veteran lineman with WAPA, said crews completed the rebuild task and energized the line on Sept. 2, and headed home in time for the rest of the Labor Day weekend. 

Brad Seely, North Dakota’s Maintenance Manager based in Bismarck, said the crews came together seamlessly. 

“This situation went down, and our crews saw what needed to be done,” Seely said. “We ended up having a lot more volunteers to support the response than we thought. It all came together and we got the job done efficiently and safely.” 

Peterson echoed Seely’s sentiment, saying it was “super impressive” to see the response. 

“You know, when something like this happens and you ask other line crews for help, they always come,” he said. “It was a big weekend and people had family plans, but everyone is super good at helping when asked … You can call some people up and they always show up.”