Power Restoration Efforts At Standstill

Whiteout and blizzard-like conditions are hindering efforts to get power back on across South Dakota.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, 7,500 people are without power in the state. Kristi Turman with the Office of Emergency Management says resources are at a standstill and nearly all line workers have been pulled in because of the conditions. Thirty-one emergency shelters are open, and so far, 270 people have used them.

Greg Fuller with the Department of Transportation says they expect conditions to worsen overnight and people should not travel if they don't have to. Interstate 29 from Sioux Falls to the North Dakota border is closed. Interstate 90 from Chamberlain to the Minnesota border is also closed. Officials say it is too early to know when the interstates might reopen to traffic.