Rallying the troops

Emergency Management Coordinator Ed Robinson led a meeting of agencies from across this region on Thursday to discuss the official response to the upcoming Sturgis Motorcycle. At this time, its thought that the number of visitors to this area could range from anywhere between 750,000 and 1.25 million.

Reports were given from agencies including town and county fire departments, EMS departments, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office and Wyoming Highway Patrol. In Sundance, said EMS Director Anthony Vopat, “We’re staffing up a little extra,” while Black Hills Life Flight confirmed it would be staging locally in case of emergency.

Other agencies in attendance included the South Dakota Department of Health, Meade County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Homeland Security and the Crook County Attorney’s Office. Wyoming Highway Patrol described the strategy for covering the roads in this area, while the Sheriff’s Office discussed bringing in extra officers.

Susan Sanders of the National Weather Services provided an unsurprising prediction for the week’s weather, saying, “The outlook for the rally is hot and dry.”

The main part of the rally in Sundance, said Robinson, will as always be the burnouts, which he said seem to be drawing “a bigger and bigger crowd.”

Speaking after the meeting, Robinson shared his recommendation for locals to, “Watch out for motorcycles, as well as other intense traffic during that time. With the numbers of people that have already gone to Devils Tower, and other areas, it suggests to be a busy week.”