NORTHWOOD, N.D. — Ten years ago on Saturday, one local town was changed forever.
The Northwood tornado of 2007 devastated the town, causing $60 million worth of damage and killing one person.
A night that residents in the town of Northwood will never for get.
“You could feel it was super quiet, there was no wind at all. It was eerie. It was very still and dark out,” said Kay Case, Northwood resident.
An E-F4 tornado ripped through the small town that evening.
“I almost felt the house take like a deep breathe. Like it flexed out and flexed back in,” said Rick Johnson, Former Northwood Mayor.
The storm badly damaged many buildings and homes in the small town leaving $60 million worth of destruction, but it didn’t break the spirit of the people.
“There were all these people that just volunteered to help out. Whatever skills they had, they were willing to share with the community and it was wonderful,” said Kay and Hank Case, Northwood residents.
Thousands of volunteers cleaned up most of the debris in just over a week.
“If you saw somebody that needed help you’d stop what you’re doing on your own home and help out the people who needed it more than you did,” said Johnson.
10 years later, Northwood is rebuilt with reminders of what happened a decade ago scattered.
The owner of the brass rail bar in Northwood tells me that piece of white plastic wedged between the pole and the building is actually from the tornado.
He’s never taken it down, he just likes to keep it up as a piece of history.
Reminders, and new buildings to show what good could come from this.
“There are nicer newer homes. And I realize the people had to go through a lot of misery to have a newer home, but I think most of them are pretty happy,” said Johnson.
Happiness, that only comes from the strength of small town living remaining still today.
“Everybody is so united in everything they are doing,” said Case.
A town of 1,000 people proving that mother nature can’t break the human spirit.
Eighteen people were injured and one person was killed in the tornado.
Locals say that was a lucky break, considering how bad some of the damage was.
by Scott Cook
Aug 26, 2017
