South Dakota customer goes to Walmart for regular shopping trip. Little did she know there would be a ‘Code Black’ and a complete store shutdown

Not many customers enter a Walmart store expecting to remain there for hours, but if you live in a state like South Dakota, you may get used to getting stuck in places.

In a recent video that got over 4.5 million views, Siouxland-based TikTok creator Taylor (@tayleek) captured a scenario not many people are used to experiencing.

What Went Wrong At This Walmart?

In the clip, she’s sitting on the floor at Walmart during what she calls a “Code Black.” Around her, several other adults and kids sit on the floor as employees roam around. She also films a Walmart worker handing out cookies.

“Code black at Walmart…” she wrote on-screen. “Not fun.. scary.. at least this guy handed out emotional support cookies.”

“Felt like I was in a twister movie,” she wrote in the caption.

Commenters Love the ‘Cookie Guy’

In the comments section, viewers were mostly focused on the worker handing out cookies during the shutdown.

“Props to cookie guy. Not all heroes wear capes,” one user wrote.

“Does the cookie make it better? no. but wouldn’t you rather be in this situation WITH a cookie rather than without?” another asked.

Others joked about what they would do if they were stuck there long enough.

“Idk what code black is, but if it takes longer than 2hrs I’m reaching for the rotisserie chicken and a coke,” a third wrote.

What’s a ‘Code Black’?

The exact phrase is often used in hospitals, though emergency codes can vary by institution. According to an Advocate Health emergency code sheet, “Code Black” refers to a tornado warning.

The same sheet instructs staff to close corridors and fire doors and move both patients and visitors to corridors or interior rooms during that kind of warning.

That appears to match the situation in Taylor’s video, where customers were gathered on the floor inside the store instead of being allowed to leave.

How Common Are Tornadoes in South Dakota?

According to a blog post by Ground Zero Shelters, tornado season peaks in June in South Dakota, with an average of 36 tornadoes each year.

Around the same time Taylor posted her video, local media outlet KTIV reported that the National Weather Service listed 16 tornadoes that touched down in Siouxland.

That timing appears to line up with the situation in Taylor’s video, which was posted two days ago. The publication also noted that 16 tornadoes touched down inside the city, with damage reported across the area.

@taylorannkathol Felt like I was in a twister movie #tornado #walmart #cookies #siouxfalls #scary ♬ Welp, Didn't Expect That – Yu-Peng Chen & HOYO-MiX

The Mary Sue has reached out to Taylor via Instagram and TikTok messages for comment and additional details.

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