Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) – The city of Bemidji, Minnesota, is reeling from the aftermath of a 105 mph storm that struck early Saturday, leaving behind a staggering trail of devastation in this town of 16,000 residents.
While streets are now passable, miles of downed trees still line neighborhoods and critical areas, with power outages affecting many. Resident Curtis Noise described the storm hitting his home, snapping over six trees in his yard—“just a lot of wind… trees bouncing off the roof.”
Bemidji State University remains closed due to widespread tree damage on campus. Greenwood Cemetery faces catastrophic losses, with cleanup estimates surpassing $100,000—a cost that could bankrupt the cemetery association, says volunteer Bill Bachelder.
Mayor George Prince acknowledged that the city budget cannot absorb the damage. “You’re talking millions,” he said, hoping for state and federal relief. Governor Tim Walz is visiting the area to assess the damage.
The cleanup could take weeks or longer. Every street in town needs attention.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.