Billings Tornado Wrecks Havoc

BILLINGS (GaeaTimes.com) On Sunday a tornado ripped through Montana casing massive damage to structures in Billings and Lockwood. The tornado struck around 5pm and witnesses who saw the phenomenon said that it hovered over the Rimrock Auto Arena for 15 mins. The tornado was followed by a hailstorm with golf ball sized hail. Residents have been warned about the downed lines and poles and there has been a notification of a major power outage in the Billings area.

Toman Baukema who is a trooper for the Montana Highway Patrol saw the tornado touch down and go up several times. He said that there was threat toa nearby mall that worried the authorities. A crew has been sent to prevent any case of gas leakage from the mall area. There are reports of flooding in the streets and basements of Billings. The after-effects now visible show metal strips hanging from the power lines and debris strewn all across the area. There were however no reports of injuries.

The 10,000 seater Rimrock Auto Arena which saw the maximum damage, is a host to rodeos, monster truck shows, concerts and even high school graduation functions. The roof of the building has been ripped apart mostly by the storm. Another building that suffered severe damage was a auto-glass shop whose roof was removed by the tornado and dumped in a nearby creek. The shop now stands with only the walls. The tornado in Montana also tore apart a casino, bar and laundromat in the city’s downtown area. The city in Billings authorities have stated that people have been called in for the restoration work.