NEAR WANAMINGO, Minn. (KTTC) -- Nearly two months later signs of devastation from a thunderstorm still linger in rural Wanamingo.
Gaylen Ordalen says, "It's hard to get up in the morning and look at this and have a good demeanor."
Several families in the rural Wanamingo area remember well the night of June 14 when strong straight-line winds tore through the area leaving behind a path of destruction. A careful analysis of the storm by National Weather Service meteorologists shows how the violent downdraft most likely did so much damage during the evening of June 14th.
Vicki Ordalen says, "Before June 14 or even that morning life was good. It was so much more predictable and we got up in the morning and we knew what we were going to be doing for the day and then in four minutes, devastation, it's all tangled."
The Ordalen's are one of the families hardest hit.
Gaylen explains, "The pig nurseries are our main source of income and as you can see the roof on this nursery is gone and the barn next to it has severe hail damage and the side there, it took all the paint right off and dented the wood about this much."
Little did they know, nearly two months later, construction on rebuilding several barns and their home would not even have begun.
Gaylen says, "One thing that is concerning is trying to have something before the snow flies."
Instead, they're stuck in a battle with their insurance company - like several other families affected by the same storm. It's those neighbors and their family that have helped them come this far.
The Ordalens say, "This community really sticks together. And you have a great family that just supports you all the time and we're really lucky."
A benefit will be held for the Ordalens on August 5 in Northfield. The money will go to helping them with recovering their property. It's from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Estenson's Event Center. There will be live music, a silent auction and other activities.
