Pennington County Courthouse Evacuated Amid Power Outages in South Dakota

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The Pennington County Courthouse was evacuated on November 13 due to electrical issues, specifically reports of popping sounds and smoke. As a result, the courthouse will remain closed for the rest of the day.

This evacuation follows a massive power outage that swept across western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. This blackout left tens of thousands without electricity, affecting transportation, schools, and emergency services.

Black Hills Energy reported nearly 70,000 customers impacted, while Rocky Mountain Power noted more than 54,000 outages in Wyoming. Other outages were reported by Powder River Energy Corp and Montana-Dakota Utilities, further extending the blackout into parts of Montana. Major affected areas include Rapid City, Casper, Gillette, and Sheridan.

In Rapid City, traffic lights went out, prompting police and sheriff’s deputies to direct traffic manually at key intersections. Authorities advised drivers to treat these intersections as four-way stops. Communities including Belle Fourche and Spearfish also experienced outages.

While the exact cause of the power outage has not been confirmed, unverified reports suggest a fire at the Dave Johnston power plant in Glenrock, Wyoming, may have triggered the situation. Black Hills Energy crews began partial restoration efforts by 1:50 PM, restoring power to some areas in the Black Hills, although full restoration timelines are still unknown.

Despite the blackout, Rapid City Area Schools remained open and assured parents that students would be dismissed at regular times. Rapid City Transit initially suspended operations but resumed services later in the day, despite potential delays due to ongoing traffic issues.

Authorities mentioned that the outage followed a geomagnetic storm warning issued by NOAA, raising concerns about grid vulnerabilities amid increased solar activity. Utility companies continue to restore power, advising residents to stay alert and conserve energy as updates from local authorities develop.