Montana highway patrol says tornado touches down in Billings, demolishes parts of expo center
By APSunday, June 20, 2010
Montana highway patrol says tornado hits Billings
BILLINGS, Mont. — A tornado that touched down in Billings, Mont., caused heavy damage to parts of an expo center Sunday evening, a Montana highway patrol dispatcher said.
The Expo Center at Metra Park suffered damage when the tornado hit in a neighborhood called The Heights, dispatcher Jordan White said.
A good chunk of the center’s 10,000-seat Rimrock Auto Arena was torn off when the tornado hit as a big storm system with golf ball-sized hail passed through the city. Debris was seen strewn for hundreds of yards in the surrounding area.
The arena is the multi-facility event center’s main venue. The center is used to host rodeos, monster truck shows, concerts and high school sporting events.
Law enforcement at the scene didn’t know of any event going on at the arena when the tornado hit. No deaths or injuries have been reported.
The patrol has blocked off the area and has asked that people to stay out of the neighborhood.
