Month: April 2020

The Tuesday topic for Severe Weather Awareness Week is Severe Weather, Lightning, and Hail.  Warm, humid conditions are favorable to storm development and storms typically are small producing heavy rain and wind over a relatively small area for a brief period of time explains Crookston Firefighter Justin Johnson. “They are relatively small, about 15 miles in diameter and will last about 30 minutes,” said Johnson.  “Severe thunderstorms can produce large hail and heavy winds of at least 58 mph. Some wind gusts can exceed 100 mph and produce tornado-like damage. About 10 percent of storms are severe and may occur in clusters or lines.”

The best place to in a storm is a basement with water pipes and electrical explains Johnson. “The safest place to be during a thunderstorm is in the basement of any normal building away from windows,” said Johnson.  “Most hardtop cars are safe from lightning.  Convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles and fiberglass vehicles offer no protection from lightning.  Avoid contact with interior metal during a storm.”  

It’s important to remember if you can hear thunder lightning can strike you and the only safe place is inside. “No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area,” said Johnson.  “If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.  When you hear thunder, immediately move to a safe shelter, a building or a closed metal top vehicle with windows up.  And stay in a safe shelter for at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.”

Getting struck by lightning is more common than you might think with 240,000 people struck each year.  “Lightning bolts can be over five miles in length,” said Johnson.  “Lightning can strike up to 15 miles away from the center of the storm.  National Weather Service data says the chance of being struck by lightning once in your lifetime is 1 in 12,000.”

Hail will also accompany thunderstorms and the larger the hail the faster it falls making it more dangerous. “Hail can range from pea-size, which is most common, to baseball size or bigger,” said Johnson.  “Large hailstones fall faster than 100 mph and can severely injure or kill people.”

Minnesota’s statewide tornado drill will take place on Thursday.  Outdoor warning sirens and NOAA Weather Radios across the state will be sounded at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation continues to warn motorists of the travel advisories issued in northwest Minnesota due to flooding. Use caution and obey road signs posted in the area.

Highways that remain closed:

• Highway 1 from Oslo to CR 17
• Highway 2B Sorlie Bridge in East Grand Forks
• Highway 175 between North Dakota and CR 34, west of Hallock
• Highway 220 north of Oslo, between Highway 1 and Highway 11
• Highway 317 between Highway 220 and North Dakota border
• Highway 102 northwest of Fertile from Hwy 32 to CR 44

Highways that have been opened and are clear of water:

• Hwy 75 north of Climax
• Hwy 220 south of Alvarado

MnDOT cautions motorists to be alert for the potential of road flooding throughout northwest Minnesota as additional precipitation and heavy snowpack continue to melt and water levels rise. Highways could be closed at times if water poses a safety hazard to motorists. Areas that have water on the road or are closed because of flooding are marked on MnDOT’s road conditions map at www.511mn.org.

When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.

Today, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-35 extending the peacetime emergency in Minnesota for 30 days.

“Our actions have saved lives, but the threat of COVID-19 remains,” said Governor Walz. “The next stages of this pandemic are going to challenge us – an extension of Minnesota’s peacetime emergency will allow us to protect Minnesotans’ health and wellbeing and continue to respond effectively to this rapidly-evolving situation.”

Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 13, 2020. On March 15, Minnesota detected the first confirmed cases caused by “community spread”—infections not epidemiologically linked to overseas travel. By March 17, all 50 states had reported a confirmed case of COVID-19. And on March 21, the Minnesota Department of Health announced the first confirmed fatality due to COVID-19 in Minnesota.

Since the Governor declared a peacetime emergency, Minnesota has taken strong steps to respond to and provide relief for COVID-19: closure of schools and implementation of a distance learning period; enhanced protections for veterans in our veterans’ homes; activation of the National Guard to assist in relief efforts; measures to preserve personal protective equipment; temporary closure of bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation; efforts to provide economic relief and stability to those impacted by the pandemic; regulatory changes allowing our state agencies and licensing boards to ensure fast relief to Minnesotans; and an order directing Minnesotans to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. Today’s extension of the peacetime emergency is necessary for many of these measures to continue.

This extension of the peacetime emergency is effective today through May 13, 2020, and the Governor will seek the Executive Council’s approval of the extension this afternoon.

On Sunday, April 12 at approximately 10:55 p.m. the Grand Forks Police Department responded to call of an assault that occurred prior.  The initial investigation indicated that multiple individuals entered an apartment without permission, assaulted an individual within that apartment, and illegally transferred funds electronically from the person assaulted to one of the individuals present.  Several, but not all, of the suspects involved in the incident, were known to the victim.  The initial investigation indicated the suspects were in another apartment within the same building.

Given the nature of the incident, a search warrant was obtained for the suspect apartment.  Upon announcement of the search warrant, and unlocking the door, all suspects exited the apartment without incident.

At the conclusion of the initial investigation, the following individuals were charged as noted below.  It should be emphasized that this investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional charges for one or more of the individuals involved in this incident may be forthcoming.

• Luke Drougas, a 20-year-old Grand Forks resident, was charged with: BURGLARY, ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, & TERRORIZING.
• Keegan Hofstad, a 19-year-old Grand Forks resident, was charged with: BURGLARY & ROBBERY.
• Mason Demontigny, a 19-year-old Fargo resident, was charged with:    BURGLARY & ROBBERY.
• Austin Suedel, a 21-year-old Grand Forks resident, was charged with:  BURGLARY & ROBBERY.
• Jacob Busch, a 20-year-old Fargo resident, was charged with:  BURGLARY.

Anyone with information on this, or any related, incident, is encouraged to contact the Grand Forks Police Department by one of the following methods:

Call:                       701-787-8000
Online:                 Submit a tip via the GFPD’s Facebook or website
App:                     Submit a tip via the Tip411 app

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide (CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE GUIDE) is a first-of-its-kind resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.

“Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities preparing for and impacted by COVID-19,” Perdue said. “This resource guide will help our rural leaders, whether they are in agriculture, education, health care or any other leadership capacity, understand what federal assistance is available for their communities during this unprecedented time.”

USDA has taken many immediate actions to assist farmers, ranchers, producers, rural communities, and rural-based businesses and organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on these actions, visit www.usda.gov/coronavirus.