The sound of chainsaws rings out from dawn to dusk as folks emerge from the storms. Northfield City Engineer Dave Bennett confirmed an EF1 tornado hit Northfield but there were 10 spotted through the area. An E2 hit Morristown. The good news is power came back on last night for most and the number of volunteers who have continued to turn out to help in the aftermath has been nothing short of amazing. Local businesses have donated water, food, batteries and chainsaw oil. Mayor Pownell and Bennett were in studio yesterday
morning. As for the City, they’re focus is clearing the boulevard trees to get the roads cleared and then a citywide clean up for residents will begin Oct. 8th. A formal neighborhood pickup schedule will be sent out in an upcoming notification to the entire Northfield community. City operations will make one pass through a neighborhood. All the rules: Nfld disaster cleanup press release 9-23-18 What Northfield residents can’t get to the compost site on their own, the city will pick up at your curb. Northfield Shares is coordinating volunteers, many are still needed, at least locally for the next two weekends says Mayor Rhonda Pownell. Those with equipment such as chainsaws, regular saws, rakes, branch cutters and pickups and trailers, in particular, as clearing continues. A new compost site is being prepped at the Rodeo Site and will be open tomorrow. The City is getting a grinder out at the regular compost site to create more space. Mayor Pownell and Bennett’s interview is online. If YOU need help or can volunteer reach out to northfieldshares.org or your local city officials. Here is a link to the City of Northfield – check our site and theirs for continued updates. Additionally, Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn reports on Rice County roads and Roberd’s Lake Blvd closed as clean up continues. Please read the full press release: Media Release Rice County Road updates 092418
Red Barn Farm leveled
The beloved Red Barn Farm was leveled in the tornado. Pat Winter and the family were celebrating his mom’s 77th birthday. You could see the crockpots in the debris. He said, “everybody’s phones went off at the same time about the storms, so being the smart ones, we were watching it from the window and then Tammy finally insisted that everybody go downstairs, there’s a little crawlspace”. Thirteen people in the crawl space heard the devastation taking place. Pat said, “when the table hit the door, I knew that the barn was gone because the tables were in the barn. So we still didn’t really know what was going on. You knew the turkey barns were gone because of the smell”. Tammy Winter said when they emerged from the crawlspace, “the horses were standing there looking at us like what just happened”. A gofundme page has been set up for them. It’s called helpredbarnfarm . [envira-gallery id=”71764″]
Neighborhood fallen and lifted
The Bridgewater Township neighborhood of Upper Oak Hills was devastated as each home lost dozens of trees and, after lots of volunteers showed up over the weekend, they’re able to move in and out of their neighborhood. They’re moving the debris to the ditches but their road cannot take large equipment, they desperately need folks with trucks and trailers to take it to the compost site. Flom is doing an extra recycling pickup this week for the neighborhood. [envira-gallery id=”71770″]
Rice County disaster phone line and landfill information
The Rice County Non-Emergency Storm Line will be available to take calls this week Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The Rice County Landfill will be open today through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and next Saturday from 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Rice County Board of Commissioners issued a continuance of the Declaration of State of Emergency. Here’s a link to Rice County
