Reported tornado hits Hamlin County town of Castlewood

CASTLEWOOD, S.D. — Significant damage to homes and to the town's school were reported Thursday night in the Hamlin County town of Castlewood, which was among the hardest hit in eastern South Dakota by a reported tornado.

The National Weather Service office in Aberdeen issued a preliminary storm report for a tornado in Castlewood at 5:56 p.m., reporting damage to two houses and the north side of the Castlewood school complex and videos showed extensive damage to the school gymnasium.

The community of about 650 residents is South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's hometown. Noem said Thursday night in a tweet that she was making her way to northeast South Dakota to check on the damage.

In a briefing with Castlewood residents, Noem said there were "quite a few" injuries around the state but one fatality.

"In Castlewood, if we can work through, especially the next 24 hours together, and just make sure that everybody stays safe and we get the resources here that we need to and we'll continue to build on that," Noem said.

NWS Aberdeen issued four tornado warnings and continued two more in the northeast region of the state. To the south in Arlington, two grain silos were reported to be destroyed, with roof damage to a number of downtown buildings.

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