The Polk Sheriff’s Office along with Emergency Management is reporting storm damage from multiple areas of East Polk County including the Winger area, Fosston area, and Tilberg Park and Campground, located in Queen Township, north of the City of Fosston. The following damage report is from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department –
The City of Winger experienced loss of power, extensive damage to homes, outbuildings, vehicles and to the CHS-Winger Elevator. Also reported was a gas line leak involving a grain dryer at the CHS Elevator, which resulted in a temporary short-term evacuation of residents living nearby.
The City of Fosston had some downed trees and a downed Verizon Cellphone Tower located northeast of the City of Fosston off of Polk County 1. Damage to Tilberg Park included downed trees, damage to several campers and one vehicle. The strong winds also hit Fosston’s cable TV satellites east of Fosston on the Columbia Road. Fosston received one channel from that tower and the antennas that receive the rest of the local channels were also destroyed along with two large satellite dishes that receive numerous other channels. Fosston Mayor Jim Offerdahl (also KROX Radio engineer) said via social media – “It is our hope to have most of the local channels restores in 24 to 48 hours. We also hope to be able to restore some of the other cable channels in short order. However, some of them will not be restored until new dishes arrive and can be assembled. We anticipate that to take a week to ten days. Our crew will work to restore service for all channels as soon as is possible.”
No reports of any injuries at any of the affected areas were received.
The National Weather Service out of Grand Forks is surveying the damaged areas in Polk County area to determine if the damage is the result of high winds or tornadic activity.
Given the stormy weather period Polk County has been experiencing, we are reminding everyone to pay close attention to any weather notices put out through the National Weather Services. We are also encouraging all Polk County residents to sign up for Code Red Weather alerts. Information on Code Red can be found on the Polk County Website or by calling the Sheriff’s Office at 218-281-0431.
Damage to the satellite dishes and the Verizon tower east of Fosston. Pictures by Jim Offerdahl
