A number of vehicles were swept across the parking lot of Wadena-Deer Creek High School during a tornado that swept through Wadena June 17. More than 60 vehicles throughout the Wadena area were totaled during the devastating storm. (Staples World photo by Dawn Timbs) The tornado’s tail had hardly disappeared from view last Thursday before emergency plans were being activated by Wadena County personnel and others from a huge surrounding area.

Officials from the City of Wadena and Wadena County quickly set up an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Thursday night in the courthouse, where Sheriff Mike Carr Jr., Police Chief Uselman and County Emergency Management Director Scott McKellep operated out of.

Hundreds of police, firemen and ambulance personnel responded to Wadena within minutes of the first sirens. Their work was directed and monitored from the EOC for the rest of the night.

The Minnesota State Patrol, Todd County Sheriff, Hubbard County Sherif f, Crow Wing County Sheriff, White Earth Tribal Police, Carlos Fire Department, Henning Police, Verndale Fire Department, Sebeka Fire Department and Staples Police and Fire Departments were just a few of those who immediately came to help through mutual aid agreements with the Wadena Police and Fire and Wadena County Sheriff.

Responding from Staples were three of the department’s police officers, Ron Case, Chris Goff and Jeff Jares.

Staples Police Chief Kyle Huber offered assistance on Friday, along with officers Case and Melissa Birkholtz, working approximately six - seven hours each. Officer Ryan Goff worked much of Sunday evening. Most officers volunteered

their time, just using a squad, Huber said, “But a couple of officers, including myself, worked during our regular shifts,” he added.

Five Staples firemen (Barry Hirschey, Todd Hoemberg, Jeff DeGeest, Jeff Berg and Wade Bendson) and two grass rigs went to Wadena, where they provided security around private residences. They joined firemen from Detroit Lakes, Alexandra and many other communities. Also dispatched to the Wadena tornado scene on Thursday evening were several EMT personnel from the Staples Ambulance Service and one of the local ambulances.

“This type of assistance is extremely important - even more so in a rural area as none of our cities have enough resources to do it ourselves,” Huber said. “When we had a tornado a few years ago many of the same agencies came to assist us at no charge as well. That’s the way it works.”

He wasn’t prepared for the devastation he saw in Wadena, Huber said. “In nearly 30 years, I have not personally seen anything this bad,” he added.

In Wadena, firemen and police were stationed at intersections and other locations, directing traffic and cordoning off roads that were blocked by debris. Efforts were made to keep people away from downed electric wires and from possible ammonia and natural gas leaks. Broken glass and other debris were other hazards for pedestrians and vehicles.

Friday morning efforts were concentrated on getting power restored to those areas still without power. Crews also worked to ensure that the natural gas lines to damaged buildings were sealed off.

Wadena city utilities workers, with some assistance from other municipalities, were concerned that power be restored to three lift stations in the city’s sewer system and also to pumps for the city’s water distribution system.

“At this point they want to make sure residents in the affected areas are safe,” Wadena County Attorney Kyra Ladd said Friday morning.

She noted that she, along with Wadena County sheriff’s deputies and others were serving as weather spotters Thursday afternoon watching weather developments.

Ladd said it could have been much worse if a planned parade for Thursday afternoon had not been called off two hours earlier. Officials had canceled the Summer Fun Days parade at about 3 p.m. due to the threatening weather reports. “It would have been a whole different situation if we had people lined up along the parade route,” she said.

Staples volunteer Jeff DeGeest said that on Friday, regional Walmart stores provided a variety of household and personal supplies for Wadena residents in one truck load. Meanwhile a Home Depot truck arrived in Wadena loaded with chain saws, generators, gasoline and oil to run them and other supplies that will be needed in the clean-up efforts.

A number of organizations were at the scene following the tornado in Wadena, including the Salvation Army, Minnesota National Guard, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Red Cross, Minnesota Department of Health, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Minnesota DNR and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Senator Amy Klobuchar made a visit Saturday; Senator Al Franken and Congressman Jim Oberstar sent staff members to offer assistance; State Senator Dan Skogen, State Rep. Mark Murdock, State Rep. Bud Norris were present; and Todd County Administrator Nate Burkett and Todd County Sheriff Pete Mikkelson came to offer assistance as well.