RAPID CITY, S.D. – Mayor Jason Salamun and City of Rapid City officials gathered Friday afternoon at Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium to coordinate the ongoing recovery efforts following a historic wind storm that impacted the region Wednesday night.
The press event, held next to one of the city’s designated remote debris sites, served to centralize resources for residents dealing with significant property damage and fallen trees.
City leadership confirmed that the Rapid City Landfill remains the primary location for disposal, but two supplemental remote sites have been established at Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium and West Boulevard North to handle tree debris. These remote locations are scheduled to remain operational daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 31, 2026. Officials noted the extended timeline is intended to accommodate both storm cleanup and the disposal of holiday Christmas trees.
Public safety personnel, including Rapid City police officers and park rangers, have been deployed to these sites to manage traffic flow. Authorities emphasized that the police department will monitor these areas to prevent illegal dumping outside of the designated operating hours.
Mayor Salamun praised the resilience of the community and the speed of the local response.
“This was a wind storm of massive proportions and the clean-up is going to take a dedicated effort,” Salamun said. “I have been so impressed by the response of our City’s employees who are selflessly working long hours to help expedite the process. In addition to our City employees, I have once again been proud to see the great citizens of our community come together to help others in need.”
For residents requiring direct assistance with recovery, officials pointed toward the Central and Western South Dakota Red Cross. Real-time updates regarding power outages and safety alerts continue to be funneled through the Pennington County Public Safety Hub.
City crews are expected to continue cleanup operations through the coming weeks. Local leadership requested continued patience from the public as heavy equipment moves through residential neighborhoods to clear secondary roads and public spaces.
