Severe weather in North Dakota resulted in the tragic deaths of at least three individuals overnight, according to authorities. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was called to rural Enderlin, North Dakota, for tornado damage at a residence around 11:40 p.m. local time on Friday. Upon arrival, deputies were informed by the Enderlin Fire Department that two people had been found deceased by storm chasers as a result of the tornado. Subsequently, a third deceased person was discovered at another location by the fire department. Deputies, along with various partner agencies, conducted well-being checks in the area which had suffered extensive damage.
Law enforcement, the Enderlin Fire Department, and additional first responders are continuing search and rescue operations in the affected area to ensure the safety of residents. Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner emphasized the dangerous nature of the storm during their response and expressed the difficulty of encountering familiar faces in such distressing circumstances.
Following the widespread devastation caused by multiple tornadoes, strong winds, and hail across North Dakota on Friday, Governor Kelly Armstrong declared a statewide disaster and activated the State Emergency Operations Plan. The governor extended condolences to the families of the three North Dakotans who lost their lives in the tornado, as well as to the Enderlin community facing significant damage. The State Emergency Operations Plan mobilizes state resources to aid in response and recovery efforts, collaborating with federal agencies to support local and tribal authorities in restoring services and infrastructure.
A severe thunderstorm event, known as a “derecho,” brought damaging winds spanning over 300 miles with gusts reaching up to 106 mph. Nine tornadoes were reported in eastern North Dakota, accompanied by hail larger than baseballs extending from eastern Montana to northwestern Minnesota. Additionally, heavy rain from the storm led to isolated flash flooding incidents, prompting multiple water rescues in Fargo.
