(Keystone, SD) — People in Western South Dakota are getting ready for possible power shutoffs. At a recent community meeting in Keystone, residents learned how to use generators and keep safe during outages. Organizer Sherry Smith says the goal is to help vulnerable neighbors, like those on oxygen or using stair lifts. She also worries about the impact on local businesses that rely on power to keep sales going. One resident expressed worries about food going bad if the power stays off for days. Black Hills Energy says planned shutoffs would only happen in extreme wildfire conditions, and they’ll give as much warning as possible.
