There is a torn canopy along the fence and a utility pole that has fallen to a tree in the middle of the site.
In between all that is Gary DeWaay, 62, who is working hard to get his business back on track for the second time in less than two months after Tuesday afternoon’s protracted and severe storm called a derecho.
Again, such a storm would have damaged his property. And again, the Netbinders Volleyball Complex was closed for repairs for a day or two. Another tree lay right next to a pile of wood he was chopping from the tree that fell earlier.
“It wasn’t even such a bad storm,” DeWaay said as he surveyed the damage to his business on Tuesday.
More: Tuesday storm in Sioux Falls ‘not even comparable’ to May derecho, officials say
A tree fell during the May 12 derecho that hit Sioux Falls, causing millions in damage across the state. Now DeWaay is left wondering if he should pay to replace the utility pole that was left broken and leaning against a tree. The workers at the town of Sioux Falls on the spot told him they are not sure they can fix it quickly.
“I lost a few [power] lines, it all adds up,” DeWaay said.
He has been in business for 27 years and tells the Argus Leader that he has never experienced such a setback for business as in 2022 due to devastating weather.
“I’m just a summer business buying land with the property taxes and everything else, it makes it a little bit difficult,” DeWaay said.
More: NWS confirms derecho swept through southeastern South Dakota with winds up to 99 mph
He’s lost nearly a week’s worth of income between the two derechos, as he had to cancel bookings to make repairs.
After Tuesday’s storm, DeWaay did something he had never done before and sought help from the public. A GoFundMe was set up and hit the $1,000 goal less than 2 hours after DeWaay posted it.
“I’m just a small business man and this is getting overwhelming. So please donate $5 or $10 and keep Netbinders going,” DeWaay wrote.
More: The skies of Sioux Falls turned green during severe weather. See the strange phenomenon in pictures
The owner said the problems his company faces are not exclusive to him, but rather reflect the problems facing others in the area, who are forced to foot the bill for damage caused by the ongoing weather in 2022.
“If it had just been a normal storm last night, it would still have been a normal night,” DeWaay said. “But everything is so extreme now.”
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport recorded wind gusts reaching at least 80 mph at one point during the storm.
Do you have a story idea from your community? Email reporter Alfonzo Galvan at agalvan@argusleader.com or follow him on Twitter @GalvanReports.
