SD Air National Guard provides relief to Delmont after tornado

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jacob Beukelman, 114th Civil Engineer heavy equipment operator, loads a utility terrain vehicle to transport to Delmont, S.D., May 11, 2015. Approximately 20 members of the 114th CE Squadron were activated by South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard to assist with tornado recovery efforts in the community. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Olson/Released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
South Dakota Air National Guard assists with tornado recovery

DELMONT, S.D. - Members of the 114th Civil Engineer Squadron of the South Dakota Air National Guard work alongside Delmont residents to assist with tornado recovery efforts after the city was hit by an F2 tornado on May 11, 2015. Twenty-five members of the unit, as well as heavy equipment, were activated for a period of up to five days to assist with the removal of large debris in the area.(National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Nancy Ausland/released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
South Dakota Air National Guard assist with tornado recovery

DELMONT, S.D. - Master Sgt. Jacob Erpenbach, 114th Civil Engineer Squadron engineer assistant, directs Tech. Sgt. Zach Jorgenson, 114th Civil Engineer Squadron HVAC superintendent, on the location of the next area to be cleared during the unit's state activation in support of the community of Delmont, S.D. The unit was sent to Delmont to assist with the tornado recovery efforts after the city was hit by a tornado May 11, 2015.(National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Nancy Ausland/released)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

SD Air National Guard provides relief to Delmont after tornado

Published May 12, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Luke Olson
114th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard activated about 25 members of the South Dakota National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron to assist with tornado recovery efforts in the community of Delmont, May 11.

Daugaard surveyed the damage and declared a state of emergency in Delmont after a F2 tornado impacted the town of about 230 people on Sunday. The Guard is focused on debris removal.

Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, the adjutant general of the SDNG, also traveled to Delmont to survey the damage.

"Assisting communities in the aftermath of a natural disaster is a key role of the National Guard," said Reisch. "We are proud to assist the citizens of Delmont who were impacted by this tragedy."

The Guard is coordinating their efforts with officials on site from the S.D. Department of Public Safety.

SD Air National Guard provides relief to Delmont after tornado

South Dakota Air National Guard assists with tornado recovery

South Dakota Air National Guard assist with tornado recovery