Power Outage in Grafton, ND

Two power poles were blown down along highway 17.

Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted across Walshville Township. At least one wooden power pole was snapped along county road 54, just west of the Red River bridge.

Two five thousand bushel steel grain bins were blown off their pads and tumbled across a field. Several large tree branches were also broken down onto power lines along a nearby county road.

Power poles were blown down at the intersection of North Dakota 18 and Walsh 15. The time was estimated.

A group of power poles was blown over.

The tornado touched down near Grafton and tracked about six miles to the east. The tornado broke down numerous large tree limbs across the north part of Grafton and snapped off several large pine trees in the cemetery east of town. The tornado continued eastward along highway 17, severely damaging shelterbelts, tossing culvert sections, denting steel grain bins, and knocking down two power poles. Peak winds were estimated at 110 mph.

The tornado lifted a barn from its foundation and destroyed it while uprooting numerous trees in the farmyard. Later the tornado broke down three power poles and snapped off numerous other trees along its route. Peak winds were estimated to 105 mph.

The tornado lifted a barn from its foundation and destroyed it while uprooting numerous trees in the farmyard. Later the tornado broke down three power poles and snapped off numerous other trees along its route. Peak winds were estimated to 105 mph.

The Red River at Oslo (MN) rose above flood stage around 1 AM CST on April 1st and remained above flood stage until around 10 AM CST on April 26th. The river peaked at roughly 37.70 feet around 8 PM CST on April 6th. Unofficially, 37.70 feet would be the fourth highest modern-day river stage recorded. The Red River spread well out of it banks from around Oslo (MN) northward, essentially becoming a lake. Overland flooding also occurred in addition to the river flooding, with around 200 sites (34 miles of township and county roads) around the county closed due to flooding. Water covered a portion of Interstate 29 at the Oslo/Ardoch interchange and completely filled the ditches on either side. U.S. Highway 81 was closed through Minto, because of high water along the Forest River. The Red River bridge at Oslo was closed at the peak of the flood as was the Red River bridge east of Grafton. Emergency officials encouraged residents who lived near the Red River to evacuate. Flooding also knocked out power to 12 farms. Several Coast Guard units were brought in to assist residents with emergencies through the use of airboats and helicopters. Walsh County received a Presidential Disaster Declaration for damages caused by spring flooding.In summary, the total public and private flood losses experienced within the Red River of the North basin through late March and April 2006 were likely in excess of $20 million. This includes the following amounts. For Minnesota state and local infrastructure (this total includes the damages listed for each county), $8.5 million. For North Dakota state and local infrastructure (this total includes the damages listed for each county), $8 million. For Federal agencies (USACE, USGS, and USCG), $1.5 million. For the transportation industry costs due to traffic diversions caused by prolonged road and bridge closures, $1.5 million. For personal property losses due to floodwaters surrounding more than 500 individual farmsteads and rural homesteads, $1.0 million.