Storm, Clean Up, Repeat: Severe Weather Hits Region Again
Communities are left picking up the pieces again after storms rip through Northeast North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.
For homeowners, storm cleanup is becoming a normal part of life.
Mother Nature is just walloping Northeastern North Dakota.
In fact, in Minto, homeowner Scott Gerszewski is now having to replace his roof for the third time this summer after last night’s storm.
“It looked like a tornado went through. I mean, literally,” says Gerszewski.
Wednesday is yet another cleanup day.
Picking pieces of his house off of his lawn.
He says, “I had shingles lost on all four sides.”
And dealing with Mother Nature invading his home.
“I only had one leak”, Gerszewski explains, “and it just happened to be over the kitchen, over one of the lights, so we couldn’t turn on the lights last night in the kitchen.”
The Minto area bore the brunt of a massive wind storm.
Winds were reported in the range of 60 to 75 miles per hour.
Other areas, like Grafton and Mountain, faced hail up to four inches in diameter, shattering windows and breaking through siding.
In Grand Forks, meteorologist Tom Grafenauer with the National Weather Service says, “When you’re talking four inch hail, that’s very rare.”
Not to mention flooding reports from Grand Forks to Bemidji.
“There was one report of an underpass in Grand Forks where they had to get a boat out and save the individual who actually drove into the underpass,” adds Grafenauer.
This isn’t the first major storm to hit the area.
They endured the same song and dance a month ago.
Each storm brings its own particular challenges.
“Well I think the winds were stronger but it didn’t last as long,” says Minto homeowner Shawn Sobolik
At least these homeowners are just clearing debris.
They say it could have been worse.
“I got lucky, really”, adds Gerzewski, “but it just looks like a war zone.”
Unfortunately, homeowners in the area aren’t in the clear just yet.
Thunderstorms could pop up on Wednesday and Friday nights.
