North Dakota Town Digs Out From Monster Tornado Damage
"I really don't think it's sunk in yet, but the spirit seems to be pretty good. We're all Norwegians out here. I guess we just roll up our sleeves and get to work."
EDITOR'S NOTE: This small town was hit hard by this tornado, although there was only one death, there was still overwhelming destruction. Let's keep Northwood in prayer, for those recovering who were injured, and God's comfort for the family of the man who was killed. ?Aimee Herd, BCN.
(Northwood, N.D.)?Greg Gust, a National Weather Service meteorologist, is quoted as saying he would rank the tornado that struck Northwood, N.D. on Sunday night as an F3 or an F4, which means the tornado that devastated the town packed winds of 150 mph to 170 mph. He also estimated the width of the tornado to be nearly a mile wide. The twister killed one man and injured 18 other people. Miraculously, residents of a nursing home were uninjured as they huddled in corridors when the tornado struck. (Damage in a Northwood school?Herald photo by Eric Hylden.)
According to a report in Grand Forks Herald, Richard Wild, a loan officer at Northwood's Citizen's Community Credit Union, praised the strong disaster response from nearby communities. About 200 members of regional volunteer emergency response units were reportedly at the scene after the tornado hit at 8:50 p.m.
"The response is just tremendous," Wild said. "That's one of the strengths of our rural communities."
"It's overwhelming to see your hometown under so much damage," said Don Offerdahl with the North Dakota State Electrical Board.
Noting that the townspeople remain stunned, Northwood Mayor Richard Johnson said: "I really don't think it's sunk in yet, but the spirit seems to be pretty good. We're all Norwegians out here. I guess we just roll up our sleeves and get to work."
