RAPID CITY, S.D. – Thousands of residents across the Black Hills region are without power Thursday morning as a severe wind storm continues to impact western South Dakota. Both major utility providers in the area reported significant damage to electrical infrastructure, with restoration efforts hampered by ongoing dangerous weather conditions.
Black Hills Energy reported multiple outages across its service territory beginning at 4:30 a.m. MST on Dec. 18. Company officials stated that while crews are responding to emergency situations, full restoration work will only proceed when wind speeds decrease to a level that is safe for technicians to work on elevated lines.
The utility company advised customers in Rapid City and surrounding areas to treat all downed power lines as energized and dangerous. Residents are encouraged to unplug sensitive electronic equipment to protect against surges and to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve food. According to Black Hills Energy, undisturbed food can remain frozen for 12 to 48 hours during a localized blackout.
Black Hills Electric Cooperative also confirmed widespread outages throughout its service territory. The cooperative echoed safety warnings, urging the public to stay away from fallen lines and expressing appreciation for member patience as they wait for conditions to stabilize.
The National Weather Service has maintained high wind warnings for much of western South Dakota, with gusts expected to challenge travel and utility stability throughout the morning. Both utilities have made live outage maps available on their respective websites to provide real-time updates on repair progress.
blackhillsenergy.com/outages
