A branch crushed this vehicle on Fifth Ave. S.W. in Valley City. (Brenda Gaarder/VCTR) 

By Nikki Laine Zinke
Valley City Times-Record

    A brief, but powerful morning storm raged through Valley City this morning, uprooting trees, dumping heavy rain and taking out electrical power across much of town, including street lights and the emergency 911 system.
  “911 went down at about 8:45 and came back on at about 10,” said Nancy Tougas, communicaitons specialist with the Valley City Police Department.
    Tougas said emergency calls were re-routed through State Radio’s emergency dispatcher, based in Bismarck.
    “We have radio, but no phones,” Tougas said.    
    Gusting straight line winds reached an estimated 80 miles per hour Wednesday morning in Barnes County, according to Dave Kellenbenz of the National Weather Service. Sustained winds were estimated between 45 and 50 miles per hour.
    There were no reports of tornadic activity, Kellenbenz said. However, a high-wind warning has been issued and is scheduled to expire at 1 p.m. this afternoon.
    Wind damage includes reports of uprooted trees falling on homes and vehicles, as well as one confirmed report of a barn destroyed by wind. The barn is located about 10 miles north of Valley City.
    Valley City crews are working to repair damage to electrical transformers and lines, keep lift stations operating and remove downed trees from traffic lanes.
    The clean-up effort is a big job. Shortly before noon today, workers requested larger chain saws.
    “We’re having a heck of a time getting through some of these trunks with these 55s,” one worker said.
    Community leaders were busy dealing with the aftermath of the storm, too, revamping plans for some of Valley City’s Rally in the Valley events.
    According to Dean Ihla, executive vice president of the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce, tonight’s Music in the Park and City Picnic will go on as planned, but have been relocated to the City Auditorium.
    Tomorrow’s City Hall Picnic, originally scheduled to be held in the street outside City Hall, will probably relocate, as well. Planners say the picnic will move to the Fire Hall if inclement weather continues.