According to a June 27 DNR’s Climate Journal post, the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks estimated winds in the June 21 storm may have reached as high as 120 mph, and “…nearly 60 thousand customers lost power in northwestern Minnesota, spread over nearly a dozen counties, with some residents remaining without power six days after the storm. The extreme winds snapped and uprooted trees; peeled off roofs; knocked down power lines and transmission towers; flipped vehicles; and produced secondary damage to structures and vehicles throughout the area.”
Due to damage and electrical outages from the storm, Bemidji State University closed through Saturday, June 28. Northwest Technical College closed through Wednesday, June 25. Both campuses moved to remote work and teaching during the closures while crews cleared debris, assessed damage and brought essential services back online.
This webpage provides information and resources as part of our storm response and recovery, supplementing ongoing communications and updates to the campus community. It will be updated regularly. Please see resources and answers to frequently asked questions below.
Resources
- Submit a question. As a reminder, you can send questions anonymously.
- Report new or unusual damage through our TeamDynamix ticketing system.
- Counseling for faculty and staff. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for faculty and staff offers 24/7 confidential support to Minnesota State employees. Call 1-800-657-3719 or (651) 259-3840.
- Counseling for students. For those in need of immediate support, please take advantage of the resources available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Mantra Health. There, you have access to therapy, self-care modules, emotional wellness coaching, peer-to-peer support (Togetherall) and in-the-moment support via ConnectNow. Create an account using your .edu email.
- Other support services include Mobile Crisis (for anyone in crisis). Counselors are available 24/7 and can provide urgent or emergency support to anyone in crisis. The 24-Hour Mobile Crisis Line is 1-800-422-0045. You may also text “MN” to 741741 to connect with trained and confidential counselors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, our crews have done a tremendous job getting us back in business. Restricted areas are clearly marked. Both campuses are safe to visit.
Volunteer cleanup activities will be planned once damage assessment and initial debris removal and repairs are completed by our facilities team.
While our regular email updates have aimed to keep everyone informed on recovery progress, we are actively planning a broader opportunity for campus-wide engagement and will share that information in a future update.
Yes. Our priority has been debris removal, damage assessment and repair. Tree planting will be done strategically with the long-term health and beauty of our campus at the forefront. Involving our campus community in the effort is paramount.
These talking points were prepared for University Ambassadors in Admissions to share with prospective students and their families during campus tours.
- As we walk across campus, you may notice some damage and construction.
- On June 21, a powerful storm hit Bemidji and the surrounding area with winds reaching up to 120 mph.
- Our campuses lost a significant number of trees and many of our buildings were impacted in some way. But we are resilient, and we’re all dedicated to ensuring our students continue to have the outstanding educational experience they expect from BSU and NTC.
- While our landscape has changed, the heart of campus hasn’t — and soon we’ll see signs of new growth and restoration.
Most importantly, it’s business as usual here — our facilities teams have done a fantastic job, and none of this should negatively impact your experience as a student here this fall.
The impact of the storm is of interest to the media and public. We received and responded to several media inquiries in the immediate aftermath of the storm. As Bemidji and the surrounding communities recover from the crisis, the media will continue to be interested, and we appreciate the opportunity to share our story. Please forward the request to Andy Bartlett or Amy Meckeler. They will work with you to address media inquiries as a coordinated effort and in a timely manner.
Debris is being cleared as quickly as possible. We are still formulating assessment and repair plans for our buildings, but work is well underway. We will share specific information in future updates once our timelines become more clear.
Yes, work requests should continue to be submitted as normal for day-to-day needs.