It's the second severe storm within weeks to cause damage on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This time, homes and school units in the Rockyford community are damaged.
First the drought then fire and wind damage, now hail has this community reeling.
The weekend storm propelled golf ball sized hail stones right into the sides of many homes. Now, the damage is being assessed and Rockyford residents are left wondering, "What's next?"
"It was wild, it was pretty scary." says Leroy Pourier, who was with his family in their home when the storm hit.
"We was in the house cooking supper, and we seen the storm coming, and it was too late to leave the house, and it hit, and knocked windows out while we was standing in the kitchen," explained Pourier.
But, windows weren't the only thing damaged by the storm, shingles, and something even more valuable, pasture land.
"It got everything knocked down, our grass, it was drought out here but the hail really knocked the rest the grass down. I just got dirt now, don't have nothing to feed my cows," says Pourier.
The tribal government was made aware of the damage Monday. Emergency Manager Wayne Weston says the homes come first. "We're trying to seek resources to help people repair homes, I think that's the biggest priority."
A priority on a long checklist, that started with the dry weather.
"The heat the drought, we're addressing the Haunta Virus, and now we've had several communities hit by strong storms," says Weston.
The tribe is working with FEMA to provide housing, but Weston says it's not a quick or easy process.
Tribal members displaced by a July 21st storm are still waiting to be placed.
"We probably have over 90 percent of people that have homes are un–insured, That's what we are finding out," says Weston.
Pourier is one of them. And at this point, he can only hope assistance arrives before the next storm hits.
"I hope something changes soon," says Pourier.
It's unknown how many homes were damaged in this latest storm.
The dedication of the new school scheduled for tomorrow is still planned, beginning with a breakfast at 9 a.m.
