>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR LAKELAND NEWS IS PROVIDED BY: FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI; CONTINUING THEIR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBER FDIC.

>> C.T.C.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

C.T.C; CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY ONLINE AT GOCTC.COM.

>> SOURCEWELL; BOOSTING STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUCCESS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND BY SANFORD HEALTH WITH PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS IN BEMIDJI AND ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST.

SANFORD HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CARE CLOSE TO HOME.

LEARN MORE AT SANFORDHEALTH.ORG.

>> THE WEATHER IS SPONSORED IN PART BY WIDSETH; ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS, LAND SURVEYORS, SERVING MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1975.

>> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF THE GIGAZONE, THE ALL FIBEROPTIC NETWORK THAT HAS TRANSFORMED HOW WE LIVE AND WORK.

>> LAKELAND PBS IS PROUD TO PRESENT LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU WITH LOCAL NEWS FROM BEMIDJI, BRAINERD, AND ALL OF THE LAKES COUNTRY.

DENNIS WEIMANN WITH THE NEWS, STACY CHRISTENSON WITH THE WEATHER AND CHARLIE YAEGER WITH YOUR SPORTS.

>>> THIS WAS THE SCENE EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AS A FEROCIOUS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM BARRELED INTO THE HEART OF BEMIDJI.

AND THIS WAS THE SCENE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM.

MIRACULOUSLY NO ONE INJURED FROM THE STORM ITSELF BUT DAMAGE TO THE AREA WAS EXTENSIVE.

THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE DOWNED AS WERE MANY ELECTRIC POLES.

COUNTLESS HOMES AND BUSINESSES SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE REGION WENT DARK WITHOUT POWER.

HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>>> A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR THE AREA.

TONIGHT WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THE STORM AND THE AFTERMATH.

SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS WERE OUT FOR THE AREA AND THIS IS WHAT THE STORM LOOKED LIKE ON RADAR AS IT CAME INTO THE BEMIDJI AREA.

YOU CAN SEE THE INTENSE RED AND YELLOW CENTERS OVER MUCH OF THE AREA.

OUR REPORTERS MATTHEW FREEMAN AND SYDNEY DICK HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS STORY SINCE EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND WE BEGIN OUR TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT WITH MATTHEW WHO HAS A LOOK AT THE MAGNITUDE OF DAMAGE THE STORM CAUSED.

MATTHEW?

>> THANK YOU DENNIS.

AFTER SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL CITY AND BELTRAMI COUNTY OFFICIALS, IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT THE CITY OF BEMIDJI WILL NEVER LOOK THE SAME AGAIN.

RESIDENTS OF THE AREA COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING WHEN THEY WENT TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES.

[SIRENS].

>> Reporter: THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WERE NOTIFIED TO SEEK SHELTER NOW AS DANGEROUS WINDS STARTED TO STREAM TOWARDS THE AREA.

>> AS I WAS WATCHING THE VELOCITY ON THE RADAR, IT JUST EXPLODED.

MY HEART SANK BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT WE WERE IN FOR.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED.

>> Reporter: THE BEMIDJI REGIONAL AIRPORT INITIALLY REPORTED A WIND GUST OF 106 MILES PER HOUR, PROMPTING SIRENS.

THEY GREW TO 120 MILES PER HOUR AS THE HEART OF THE STORM MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE COUNTY.

>> A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

>> 100 MILES PER HOUR WIND GUSTS TRACKING FROM STEEL COUNTY, ALL THE WAY ACROSS INTO THE BEMIDJI AREA.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE STRONG WINDS, EXPERTS BELIEVE NO TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE AREA.

>> WE LOOKED AT ALL THE TREES GOING ONE DIRECTION, THE ROOFS THAT WERE BLOWN OFF, THEY WERE ALL-IN-ONE DIRECTION.

THEY WERE NOT CONTAINING ANY OF THE INDICATORS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A SPIN UP IN THE STORM ITSELF.

WE HAVE ONLY SEEN STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: AS THE WINDS DIED DOWN, THE NUMBER OF CALLS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES STARTED TO RISE.

>> THEY RESPONDED TO OVER 100 CALLS FOR SERVICE AND THEY VARIED FROM POWER LINES DOWNED TO GAS LINES BREAKS, FIRES, CAR ACCIDENTS, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THEIR MOST SIGNIFICANT CALLS WAS SATURDAY MORNING OF A REPORTED EXPLOSION INSIDE A BUILDING NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM SANFORD HEALTH BEMIDJI.

>> THIS BUILDING WAS HEATED BY NATURAL GAS EXPERIENCED A LEAK, AND THE BUILDING FILLED UP WITH NATURAL GAS, WE SUSPECT THAT IT HIT AN IGNITION SOURCE, WHETHER THAT'S A FURNACE, LIGHT, ELECTRICITY, WHATEVER, AND THEN IT EXPLODED.

ACCIDENTAL IN NATURE, HOWEVER IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

>> Reporter: THEN RESIDENTS STARTED TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES AND THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING.

>> I PROBABLY WITNESSED THREE OR FOUR REALLY BAD STORMS IN BEMIDJI, BUT THIS IS BY FAR, I MEAN IT COVERS THE WHOLE CITY AND EVEN NORTH.

I HAVEN'T BEEN SOUTH, BUT IT'S REALLY TERRIBLE.

>> Reporter: TREES DOWN.

POWER LINES DOWN.

DRIVING AROUND ON SIDEWALKS TO AVOID THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

DESPITE THE DAMAGE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES REPORTED DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE STORM BUT OFFICIALS SAY IT'S NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.

>> WHEN I SEE NOT ONLY NO DEATHS BUT NO INJURIES IN MY BOOK, THAT TOO IS AN ACT OF GOD.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS SHOCKING.

THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE THAT WE HAD, THE FACT THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, ROOFS MISSING, GARAGES COMPLETELY IMPLODED, JUST LOOKING AT THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN WITH ALL OF THE ROOFS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS JUST GONE, IT'S NOTHING SHORT OF SHOCKING THAT NO ONE GOT HURT.

>> Reporter: ONE THING THAT OFFICIALS CLAIM WILL NEVER CHANGE IS THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AS SOON AS THE STORM CLEARED, EVEN THROUGH THE DEAD OF NIGHT, MANY RESIDENTS CAME TO THE AID OF THOSE AROUND THEM.

>> I HAVE SEEN NEIGHBORS HELPING ONE ANOTHER.

I HAVE SEEN TOTAL STRANGERS COME TO TOWN WITH CHAINSAWS TO HELP CUT DOWN TREES TO GET PEOPLE FREE FROM THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAYS.

THE OTHER THING I HAVE SEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS IS COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER AND NEIGHBORS HELPING EACH OTHER.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY UNIQUE AND BEMIDJI BEMIDJI.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE DESTRUCTION, THE STATUES IN PAUL BUNYAN PARK REMAIN UNSCATHED, SHOWING THE PEOPLE OF BEMIDJI WILL STAND TALL.

SOME AREAS ARE STILL INACCESSIBLE DUE TO DEBRIS AND THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE IS STILL BEING ASSESSED.

COUNTY OFFICIALS WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IF YOU ENCOUNTER DOWNED POWER LINES, STAY AWAY AND ASSUME THEY ARE CHARGED.

BACK TO YOU DENNIS.

>> Dennis: THANK YOU MATTHEW.

IF YOU SMELL NATURAL GAS, CALL 9-1-1, AS GAS LEAKS ARE STILL BEING DISCOVERED.

>>> METEOROLOGISTS WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAY IT IS EXTREMELY RARE TO HAVE A STORM POSSESSING WINDS THIS STRONG.

>> WE NOTICED THE WIND SENSOR AT THE BEMIDJI AIRPORT REPORTING 147 MILES PER HOUR WIND GUSTS.

THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS AND HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

SOME OF OUR FORECASTERS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AS WELL.

SO, THESE DO HAPPEN IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, BUT IT'S A RARITY TO SEE IT AT THAT MAGNITUDE, ESPECIALLY AFFECTING THAT AREA UP HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

>> AFTER TRACKING THE STORM FRIDAY NIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SPENT THE DAY ON SATURDAY ASSESSING THE DAMAGE AND TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS WAS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRAIGHT LINE WINDS OR A TORNADO.

>> WHEN WE WERE INVESTIGATING ALL THE DIFFERENT DAMAGE AND EVERYTHING, JUST THE SHEER FORCE OF EVERYTHING WITH THE WIND, I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE SEEN THAT DAMAGE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY FROM STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS.

I HAVE DONE TORNADO DAMAGE SURVEYS BUT I NEVER EXPERIENCED A STRAIGHT LINE WIND EVENT LIKE THIS IN A LONG TIME, THAT WAS ESPECIALLY 100 MILES PER HOUR WINDS.

I HAVE HONESTLY SEEN THAT DAMAGE AND THOUGHT OH MY GOSH, IT LOOKS LIKE A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE THAT RIPPED THROUGH BECAUSE HOW THE TREES WERE ALL DAMAGED AND EVERYTHING.

IT WAS JUST STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS.

SO THERE WERE HURRICANE FORCED WINDS THAT RIPPED THROUGH THE TOWN OF BEMIDJI AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE.

>> OUR TEAM COVERAGE OF THIS STORM CONTINUES NOW WITH REPORTER SYDNEY DICK WHO HAS BEEN GATHERING VIDEO AND INFORMATION SINCE EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

SYDNEY TONIGHT HAS A LOOK AT RECOVERY EFFORTS IN THE AREA.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU DENNIS.

NOW THOSE RECOVERY EFFORTS STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM WITH EVERYTHING FROM HANDING OUT FOOD AND WATER TO PROVIDING SHELTER TO THOSE WITHOUT POWER AND DAMAGED HOMES.

ONE ENTITY TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNITY BACK ON THEIR FEET IS THE BEMIDJI UNITED WAY.

>> WE STARTED THE FUNDS FOR DISASTER RECOVERY AND RELIEF AND THE FUND, WE'RE ASSESSING WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS, WHAT ARE THEIR CLIENTS' NEEDS AND HOW CAN THE FUND SUPPORT THEIR WORK AS WE ALL RECOVER FROM WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE.

>> Reporter: THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND STARTED OFF WITH A $15,000 CONTRIBUTION FROM THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION AND THE FUND WILL ALSO BE OPEN TO PUBLIC DONATIONS.

OTHER RELIEF EFFORTS ALSO CAME INTO TOWN IN THE WAKE OF THE STORM AND SET UP AT THE SANFORD CENTER IN BEMIDJI, INCLUDING THE RED CROSS AND SALVATION ARMY THAT CAME TO BRING FOOD, WATER, AND PROVIDE SHELTER FOR THOSE IN NEED.

>> WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE DOING THAT GOING FORWARD TODAY, TOMORROW, AND WEDNESDAY WE'LL DO BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER AND NOW WE'RE CLOSING AT 6:00 SO WE WON'T HAVE OVERNIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE END OF THE OVERNIGHT STAYS COMES AS MORE AND MORE POWER RETURNS TO THE CITY AND THE POWER OUTAGES AFFECTED MORE THAN JUST HOUSES AS SANFORD HEALTH IN BEMIDJI HAD TO SPEND 16 HOURS ON GENERATORS, AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM PATIENTS ADMISSION DID NOT STOP.

>> A NUMBER OF INJURIES HAPPENED DURING THE WEATHER EVENT.

A SIGNIFICANT PORTION CAN HAPPEN IN THE CLEAN UP FROM THE WEATHER EVENT.

SO IT'S A GOOD REMINDER FOR PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE NAVIGATING THROUGH THE CLEAN UP AND YOU ARE AT YOUR HOMES, TO CERTAINLY CALL FOR HELP.

IF YOU HAVE DOWNED POWER LINES, MAKE SURE YOU'RE CALLING A POWER COMPANY AND NOT GETTING CLOSE TO THOSE.

WE TRIED TO MITIGATE THE SECOND WAVE OF POTENTIAL INJURIES IN THE CLEAN UP PHASE.

>> A LOT OF THE NEEDS THAT COMMUNITY RESEARCH IS SEEING IS BASED AROUND ELDERLY AND/OR DISABLED, LOW INCOME, PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP TO CLEAR UP THEIR YARDS IN THEIR HOME.

>> Reporter: THE FULL EXTENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE STORM IS NOT YET KNOWN BUT RECOVERY EFFORTS WILL BE GOING FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> THE FUND IS OPEN, UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI, DISASTER RECOVERY, YOU CAN DONATE.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO VOLUNTEER, THEY CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND CLICK ON VOLUNTEER AND FILL OUT OUR FORM OR THEY CAN CALL OUR OFF 444-8929, AND IF THEY HAVE A NEED, 218-333-0880.

THE STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR BELTRAMI WAS ISSUED ON SATURDAY BUT IN A SPECIAL MEETING, THEY EXTENDED THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR 30 DAYS DUE TO THE EXTENT OF LOCAL DAMAGE.

THE NEW END DATE IS AT THE END OF JULY.

BACK TO YOU DENNIS.

>> Dennis: THANK YOU SYDNEY.

THOSE RECOVERY EFFORTS STARTED NEARLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AS TIM WALZ WILL SURVEY DAMAGE WITH OTHER EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.

>>> THE STORM LEFT NEARLY 50,000 PEOPLE IN THE AREA WITHOUT POWER.

WHILE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, THE TASK IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING AND SOME HOMES COULD REMAIN WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS.

LINE CREWS ARE HELPING LOCAL CREWS GET ELECTRICITY BACK TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> THESE CREWS ARE RELENTLESS.

THEY WOULD GO, GO, GO WITHOUT STOP IF WE ALLOWED THEM TO DO THAT BUT OF COURSE THEY HAVE TO HYDRATE, RIGHT?

THEY HAVE TO SLEEP.

THEY HAVE TO TAKE BREAKS.

THEY WISH THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY WOULD LOVE TO JUST KEEP GOING TO GET THE WORK DONE.

>> WE HAVE THEM GOING, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT WE WILL AT NIGHT SAY ALL RIGHT GUYS, IT'S TIME TO STOP.

WE GOT TO GO IN AND TAKE SOME REST.

>> AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, MORE THAN 5,000 IN THE AREA REMAIN WITHOUT POWER.

LESS THAN 1,000 ARE BELTRAMI ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS AND 4,500 ARE OTTERTAIL POWER CUSTOMERS.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES MIDCO AND PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS ALSO HAVE WORKERS IN THE FIELD TRYING TO RESTORE THEIR SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS.

MIDCO HAS OVERHEAD LINES AND SUFFERED MORE DAMAGE BUT PAUL BUNYAN HAS CREWS REACTING TO FIBER LINES BEING CUT DURING REPAIRS.

>>> OUR TEAM COVERAGE OF THE STORM CONTINUES NOW WITH SPORTS DIRECTOR CHARLIE YAEGER JOINING US.

CHARLIE HAS A STORY ABOUT A FAMILY STILL DEALING WITH THE DAMAGE OF A TREE THAT FELL INTO THEIR HOME.

>> YES, DENNIS.

I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY RESIDENTS AROUND THE AREA WHO'VE HAD SOME NEAR MISSES WITH TREES FALLING AROUND THEIR HOUSES, BUT ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF LAKE BEMIDJI IN LAVINIA.

THE HUNT FAMILY HAD A TREE FALL INTO THEIR BATHROOM AND ONE FAMILY MEMBER BARELY ESCAPED WITH THEIR LIFE.

>> Reporter: IT'S A MARK FROM A 100 YEAR STORM.

>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO RECOVER.

>> A 100-YEAR-OLD TREE BLOWN OVER BY 100 MILES PER HOUR WINDS.

[SIRENS].

>> Reporter: EMERGENCY ALERTS RANG OUT AFTER MIDNIGHT, BUT MANY WERE UNAWARE OF HOW SEVERE THE STORM WOULD BECOME.

>> WE HAVE HEARD THE SIREN AND WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE THAT BAD, SO WE WERE STILL UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

>> Reporter: DONALD HUNT JR. WAS STILL SECURING WINDOWS AND DOORS WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED.

>> I CLOSED THE WINDOW IN THE BATHROOM AND I DIDN'T ETCH HAVE TIME TO BLINK AND I SAW THE TREE COMING TOWARDS THE BATHROOM WINDOW.

>> Reporter: HE NARROWLY ESCAPED THE PINE BY JUMPING OUT THE DOOR AND INTO THE HALLWAY, LEFT WITH ONLY A FEW CUTS AND BRUISES AND ONE NOT SO TALL TALE.

>> IT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE I WAS 2 OR 3 FEET AWAY FROM WHERE THE TREE CAME ON TO THE SHOWER BUT IT WAS A MOMENT THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET AND I'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT FOREVER.

>> Reporter: DONALD HUNT TRIED TO CALL MEDICAL HELP FOR HIS SON BUT THEY NEVER ARRIVED.

>> THEY SAID THEIR AMBULANCE GOT STUCK INTO THE DITCH BEFORE IT GOT ON THE HIGHWAY.

>> Reporter: THE REST OF THE NIGHT WAS A BLUR FOR THE HUNTS WHO SHELTERED IN THEIR BASEMENT WHILE WINDS EQUIVALENT TO A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE RAVAGED THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAVE AND WHATNOT TO SAVE BESIDES GETTING OUT.

>> THE VIEW WAS UNFAMILIAR.

>> YOU WALK OUT OF THE HOUSE AND YOU THINK HOW ON EARTH COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED HERE?

I MEAN, THERE IS NO EXAMPLE OF ANYTHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

>> IT'S ONE THING TO SEE IT ON THE NEWS IN FLORIDA WHERE THERE ARE A FEW PALM TREES HERE AND THERE BUT YOU CAN LOOK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU USE NOT TO BE ABLE TO SEE DAYLIGHT THROUGH THE TREES AND NOW IT'S ALL OPEN SPACE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> Reporter: DON'S GRANDSON DESCRIBED THE SCENE LIKE AN 8-YEAR-OLD MIGHT.

>> I WAS THINKING OF MUFASA'S GRAVEYARD, BUT INSTEAD, TREES.

>> Reporter: THEY WERE UNABLE TO USE A CAR TO GET PROVISIONS.

THE ONLY ACCESS IS A TRAIL CARVED FROM FALLEN TREES, SOME TOO BIG TO MOVE BY HAND.

DESPITE THIS, THEY HAVE NO ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER, DON IS KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

>> THE DISASTER IS SO DYNAMIC IN THE COMMUNITY HERE THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED ARE DEALING WITH IT.

I MEAN WE HAD OUR PROBLEMS HERE, BUT EVERYBODY WAS SAFE.

>> Reporter: BUT ONE THING HE CAN'T KEEP IN PERSPECTIVE IS THE FOREST IN WHICH HE LIVES, A PLACE THAT WILL NEVER LOOK THE SAME AGAIN.

>> NO, IT NEVER WILL.

THESE TREES, THAT ONE THAT CAME DOWN, THE ARBORIST TOLD ME WAS 100 YEARS OLD.

WELL, IT WILL BE 100 YEARS UNTIL WE SEE ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT.

>> LUCKILY FOR THE HUNT'S.

THEY HAVE FAMILY THAT LIVES NEARBY AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM FOOD, WATER, AND SUPPLIES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ARE WORKING ON FINDING A WAY TO CLEAR THE ROAD SO THEY CAN FINALLY GET MOBILE.

BACK TO YOU, DENNIS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHARLIE.

AS CLEANUP EFFORTS CONTINUE THE CITY OF BEMIDJI IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED BY USING ONLY TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ARE CLEARED THROUGH THE CITY.

PEOPLE DOING STORM-RELATED WORK, SHOULD CONTACT BEN HEIN WITH THE CITY OF BEMIDJI AT 218-239-0103 TO GET CLEARED.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE PROCESS IS QUICK AND ENSURES SAFE, AUTHORIZED WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE CITY HAS ALREADY COMPILED A LIST OF MORE THAN A DOZEN TREE REMOVAL SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT HAVE BEEN CLEARED BY THE CITY.

YOU CAN FIND THAT LIST OF APPROVED PROVIDERS ON THE BEMIDJI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FACEBOOK SITE.

THE BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE REMOVAL SERVICE PROVIDER SHOULD BE LICENSED AND THAT IN THE PAST THEY HAVE HAD FAKE COMPANIES ASK FOR 50-PERCENT OF THE CLEAN-UP FEE UP FRONT AND THEN NEVER CAME BACK TO DO THE WORK.

>> STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

>> Stacy: WELL, WE HAVE SEEN QUIETER WEATHER TO START THE WEEK, ONE MORE QUIET DAY, MORE SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MIDWEEK, BUT THANKFULLY NOTHING SEVERE AND I'LL HAVE MORE ON YOUR FORECAST IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

>> UP NEXT, WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE STORM DAMAGE AT THE BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY AND NORTHWEST STATE [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

>>> SEVERAL AREAS IN AND AROUND BEMIDJI WERE HIT EXTREMELY HARD BY THE STORM, INCLUDING THE EAST SIDE OF LAKE BEMIDJI, DIAMOND POINT PARK, AND THE BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY AND NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

BOTH CAMPUSES WILL REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH AS WORK CONTINUES TO ASSESS EXTENSIVE STORM DAMAGE AND PREPARE FOR A SAFE AND SECURE RETURN TO CAMPUS.

THE SCHOOLS PRESIDENT DOCTOR JOHN HOFFMAN SAID IN A MESSAGE TO STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF THAT THEY SUSTAINED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO OUR CAMPUS.

HE SAID THAT THEIR FACILITIES AND PUBLIC SAFETY TEAMS ARE "TIRELESSLY AND HUMBLY" WORKING IN OVERDRIVE TO REMOVE FALLEN TREES AND DEBRIS.

HE CALLS THE DAMAGE WIDESPREAD AND DEVASTATING AND ASKS THAT PEOPLE STAY AWAY FROM THE CAMPUS UNTIL FURTHER MESSAGING IS RELAYED.

>>> MANY PARKS IN THE AREA WERE DAMAGED BY THE STORM AND LAKE BEMIDJI STATE PARK ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT DUE TO STORM DAMAGE IT WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL 4:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY.

>>> MAIL SERVICE IN THE BEMIDJI AREA HAS ALSO BEEN IMPACTED BY THE STORM.

THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE SAYS RETAIL SERVICES AT THE BEMIDJI POST OFFICE HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED.

POSTAL OFFICIALS ALSO SAY DELIVERY SERVICES ARE LIMITED AS THEY ASSESS CONDITIONS AND PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.

>>> WELL AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS FROM THE BEMIDJI STORM.

BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE NEAR ENDERLIN NORTH DAKOTA WHERE TWO TORNADOS INCLUDING AN EF-3 TORNADO HIT DURING THE NIGHT.

THIS IS VIDEO FROM THE DOORBELL CAMERA FROM A COUPLE LIVING IN THAT CITY AS THE FIRST TWISTER.

THE EF-3 APPROACHED FROM THE EAST.

IT WAS ON THE GROUND FOR 12 MILES WITH PEAK WINDS ESTIMATED AT 160-MILES PER HOUR.

THREE PEOPLE DIED FROM AS A RESULT OF THE TORNADOES.

THE FIRST TORNADO WAS ABOUT THREE MILES SOUTH OF ENDERLIN AND THE SECOND ABOUT THREE FOUR MILES NORTHEAST.

>>> THE LAKELAND PBS VACATION GIVEAWAY IS BACK AGAIN THIS SUMMER.

THIS YEAR ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE GIVING AWAY A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT CRAGUNS RESORT NEAR BRAINERD.

AND HERE ARE TONIGHTS FIVE POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS.

IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME, CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, WHICH IS TUESDAY, AND YOU WILL HAVE A SHOT OF BEING OUR 2025 CRAGUN'S VACATION GRAND PRIZE WINNER.

WE WILL ANNOUNCE THAT WINNER ON MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH.

TIME FOR WEATHER.

>>> STACY, TIME TO LOOK FORWARD WITH THIS FORECAST.

>> Stacy: THANKFULLY A LOT QUIETER.

WE HAD QUIETER AND COOLER WEATHER TODAY, AT LEAST SOMETHING SMALL TO RECOVER FROM THE STORMS THIS WEEKEND.

WE WILL HAVE QUIET WEATHER AGAIN TOMORROW.

THERE ARE CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AROUND MIDWEEK, BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, IT WAS A QUIET AND COOLER DAY ACROSS THE AREA TODAY.

TEMPERATURES MUCH COOLER THAN THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WE EXPERIENCED OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE ARE EXPECTING QUIET WEATHER AGAIN TOMORROW, SOME NICE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURES ONCE AGAIN.

CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS RETURN AS WE HEAD INTO THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WEEK, NOTHING SEVERE HOWEVER IS ANTICIPATED.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 59 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

AT OUR STUDIO, WINDS ARE NORTHWEST AT 7 MILES PER HOUR, AND WE HAVE A DEW POINT OF 47.

IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES, 68 DEGREES, 50 IS OUR DEW POINT, AND WINDS ARE NORTHWEST AT 7 MILES PER HOUR.

ON THE RADAR, OTHER THAN A FEW PUFFY CLOUDS, IT'S BEEN QUIET ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA TODAY.

WE EXPECT TO SEE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT AND A LOT OF SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE AREA TOMORROW, BUT ONCE AGAIN, TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 70s ACROSS OUR VIEWING AREA.

WE HAVE SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN FROM SAMROSE OVER LOWER RED LAKE.

THE FLOWERS ARE AT BLOOM IN LITTLE TURTLE LAKE.

STEPHANIE SEEING HER FIRST MONARCH CHRIS -- CHRYSALIS IN THE AREA.

AND ANGELA WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSET AT CASS LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, WE HAVE HEARD FROM A FEW.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 60 AND WINDY THIS MORNING.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE TODAY, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN EARLIER ON.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, SUNNY TODAY, THE HIGH WAS 72.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 77.

JOAN IN LAPORTE, MOSTLY SUNNY AND BREEZY TODAY.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE WITH A HIGH OF 74.

AS FAR AS OUR ALMANAC GOES, TODAY IN BRAINERD, WE TOPPED OUT AT 84.

THAT WAS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THAT, OUR AVERAGE IS 79, WE HAD A LOW OF 63, AND BEMIDJI REACHING 72, OUR LOW WAS 58, SUNSET AT 9:21.

HERE'S OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, IT'S GOING TO START OUT WITH PRETTY CLEAR SKIES, A FEW PUFFY CLOUDS HERE AND THERE.

IN FACT, WE'LL HAVE MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY.

A LOT OF SUNSHINE ANTICIPATED, COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURES ONCE AGAIN.

WE WILL HAVE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-70s, MAYBE A FEW UPPER 70s IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT MID TO UPPER 70s.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST, MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES TONIGHT, LOWS NEAR 48 WITH VARIABLE WINDS 5 TO 15.

TOMORROW, SUNNY SKIES, MID-70s FOR OUR HIGHS, WITH VARIABLE WINDS STILL AT 5 TO 15.

LOOKING AT OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS AROUND MIDWEEK, NOT ANTICIPATING ANY SEVERE WEATHER.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO REACH THE 70s, MAYBE SOME UPPER 60s ON THURSDAY.

THEN AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, TEMPERATURES START TO WARM UP ONCE AGAIN AND HIGHS WILL BE BACK IN THE 80s THROUGH SATURDAY, ABOUT 80 ON SUNDAY AND A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS WEEKEND.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS BACK FOR SPORTS.

LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DAMAGE IN THE SPORTS FIELD.

>> Charlie: YES, HARDLY FEELS RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT SPORTS.

THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE SPORTS FIELDS AS WELL.

WE TOOK A LOOK AROUND THE CITY AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >> Charlie: WELL OVER THE WEEKEND, THERE WAS LOTS OF DAMAGE DONE AROUND BEMIDJI ON THE ATHLETIC FIELDS IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS OUT AT THE SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL FIELDS.

THE BATTING CAGES ARE DECIMATED.

THE DUGOUT ROOF BLOWN ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FIELD AND INTO THE OUTFIELD FENCE.

THAT'S HOW POWERFUL THE WINDS WERE.

YOU HAVE SOME BLEACHERS TOPPLED OVER OF THE BASEBALL FIELDS.

IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE DAMAGE OVER AT BSU, THE BATTING CAGE, THE BACKSTOP, COMPLETELY BENT AND THE SNACK SHACK, COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS WELL, JUST FLATTENED.

THE TURTLE FLIPPED OVER AND THE BULLPEN WAS DECIMATED AS WELL.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE VIDEO AND WE'LL GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE WEEK.

>> Dennis: A LOT OF RECOVERING TO DO IN MANY AREAS AROUND THE CITY.

>> Charlie: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Dennis: WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED THERE.

WE DO HAVE TIME FOR A LAST LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE SHOULD BE SEEING QUIET WEATHER OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES, LOW TEMPERATURES DROPPING TO 48, VARIABLE WINDS AT 5 TO 15, A LOT OF SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE AREA TOMORROW, HIGHS SHOULD REACH ABOUT 76, STILL LOOKING AT VARIABLE WINDS AROUND 5 TO 15.

CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS RETURN MIDWEEK, NOTHING SEVERE ANTICIPATED WITH THAT BUT WE COULD BE SEEING A FEW OF THOSE HERE AND THERE WITH OTHERWISE VARIABLE CLOUDS, HIGHS IN THE 70s, A LITTLE BIT COOLER THERE ON THURSDAY, AND THEN AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, WE WILL START TO SEE TEMPERATURES WARMING UP, HIGHS IN THE 80s AND WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, AND OUR COVERAGE FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE CITY OF BEMIDJI WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]