SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Mayor Mike Huether set the stage for what April 9, 2013 was like.
That's the day the big ice storm hit Sioux Falls.
"Thirty-two degrees and light mist," Huether intoned at the start of today's news conference on the fifth anniversary of the ice storm and Operation Timber Strike. "Thirty-two degrees, continued light mist. Thirty-two degrees, more light mist."
Huether says from lessons learned after 21 days of clean-up, Sioux Falls is ready for the next natural disaster.
Huether praised the team that worked to clean up the city. Many were city workers. Some were contractors. Others were from other local governments, the State of South Dakota, and the federal government.
But an important part of that team, according to the Mayor, came from an unlikely source--state prisoners.
"I was surrounded by these wonderful men, all dressed in orange," Huether remembered. "They were part of the team. I don't know what got them placed at the state pen in the first place. And I didn't care."
Huether says the inmates were a big help with debris removal and worked hard.
In case you had forgotten how bad things were five years ago on April 9, 2013 during the big ice storm, here's a reminder from Sioux Falls Emergency Manager Regan (Ree-gun) Smith.
"Those first 72 hours, a large number of safety calls, our 911 center was overwhelmed with calls," Smith said. "Blocked roads. An extended power outage to our community. School closures."
However, Smith says citizens should expect a professional and expedient response from City government when there is a disaster. He says says that protecting life is the city's number one priority.
Smith, Huether and other City officials held a news conference on the fifth anniversary of the April 9, 2013 ice storm and recovery at the old City Commission Room at City Hall. For more information on the numbers involved, click here to read the City's news release.
Click above to watch the first half of today's news conference or all of the audio of the event.