Tornado hits Baker, Montana, destroying homes, unknown number of injured

At least two homes have been destroyed and 12 others damaged after a tornado hit the city of Baker, Montana late Saturday, June 11, 2016. An unknown number of people were injured.

The tornado touched down around 18:55 MDT (00:55 UTC on June 12) hitting the east side of Baker, a city of about 1 900 people, located about 24 km (15 miles) from the North Dakota border.

The damage, while not widespread, was significant, the BillingsGazette reports.

“I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s the worst destruction I’ve seen,” said Steve Baldwin, a Fallon County commissioner and Baker resident who is acting as the Department of Emergency Services spokesperson. Baldwin said he didn’t know how many people were injured or hospitalized, but “everyone is alive and accounted for.”

According to Baldwin, the electricity on the east side of Baker was cut off and landline telephones were down. "At least seven homes were confirmed to have sustained significant damage. Two were destroyed and roofs were pulled off of at least five. It’s very likely that others are also damaged," he said.

Lori Hall, an off-duty 911 dispatcher, said she saw the tornado form outside of the front door of her home and then watched as it hit her neighbors houses. “The whole house is gone. The neighbors dug them out. They were the first ones to be rescued.”

Hall added she saw an RV camper be lifted off the ground and get sent airborne by the storm.

A second tornado touched down south of Baker where one home was hit.

Video courtesy Live Storms Media

Video courtesy Live Storms Media

Video courtesy Travis Hafield

Featured image: Damage in Baker, Montana after a tornado touched down on June 11, 2016.