Press Release: Sunday Storm Update

Press Release: Sunday Evening Storm Update

June 22, 2025

Recovery from the early morning storm on June 21, 2025 continues with the support of several mutual aid partners, state agencies and Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster. Local governments and organizations, including townships, cities and schools should document your damages and expenses related to storm response and clean up. This information will be collected by Emergency Management as part of the Preliminary Damage Assessment in the coming days.

Beltrami Electric Cooperative and Otter Tail Power Company continue to make progress on restoration of electricity. Several thousand customers remain in the dark as of Sunday evening. It may take the final customers a week to get power back. As larger outages are restored, more small outages are expected. Specific timelines when exact locations will be restored are currently not available. As additional damage and downed power lines are discovered, please stay away from any powerlines, assuming they may be energized and report them. Additional gas leaks have also been reported, if you smell gas, call 911.

The United Way of Bemidji and the Community Resource Connections are coordinating relief efforts for residents on private property. Those needing assistance with debris removal or other resources can contact 218-333-0880 or visit the website at crcinform.org. They will also be collecting the information for those who wish to volunteer and assist disaster victims by contacting them by email at: director@unitedway.org. The United Way has also established a Disaster Recovery Fund and donations can be made at: https://www.unitedwaybemidji.org/disaster-recovery.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army continue to support response efforts by providing meals and water to responders and residents affected by the storm. Those needing assistance with essential supplies may visit the Assistance Center at the Sanford Convention Center located at 1111 Event Center Drive NE from 8am-6pm.

The National Weather Service concluded their storm assessment. While any specific tornado tracks weren’t clearly identified, the destructive straight-line winds were exceptional. A ten-mile wide swath of damage was observed across southern Beltrami County. Top wind speeds were estimated at 90-120 miles per hour, the equivalency to a Category 3 hurricane. The most intense damage was east of the south end of Lake Bemidji.

-Christopher Muller

Beltrami County Emergency Management Director