Central ND News

Gov. Kelly Armstrong has declared a statewide disaster in North Dakota following severe weather that resulted in significant damage and three fatalities. The declaration, made through an executive order, activates the State Emergency Operations Plan to mobilize resources for response and recovery.

"Our hearts and sympathies go out to the family and friends of the three North Dakotans who tragically lost their lives in Friday’s tornado, and to the close-knit community in Enderlin, which suffered widespread damage," Armstrong stated. He also expressed gratitude towards first responders and volunteers for their prompt actions during the crisis.

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes struck near Enderlin and Spiritwood, with investigations ongoing to determine additional occurrences from the supercells. Utility services reported approximately 25,000 people were still without power as efforts continued to restore service after peaking at nearly 37,000 outages.

Significant incidents included an overturned semi-truck inspected by North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers and a derailment involving empty train tanker cars near Enderlin. Traill County also reported a major derailment of grain cars.

State teams have been working overnight alongside local emergency managers to provide necessary support. "We stand ready to support as requests arrive," Armstrong assured, emphasizing community resilience.

The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services will conduct damage assessments with local communities and infrastructure providers. Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread advised residents to inspect their properties for damages and initiate insurance claims promptly.