OTTERTAIL, Minn. - With a storm approaching, Sandra Gladback left home for a few minutes Monday morning to close the windows in her son's house.
She returned to find her rural Richville mobile home shattered by a fallen tree - and her husband, Richard, trapped in the wreckage.
"We've lived here since 1983, and nothing like this ever happened," Sandra Gladback said. "It's just hard to imagine."
Richard Gladback - who his wife said suffered injuries to his chest, arms and legs - was flown to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo after Sandra called for help from a neighbor's home.
He was listed in serious condition Monday night.
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The Gladbacks are among the Otter Tail County residents digging out after high winds roared through the county late Monday morning.
Particularly hard hit were Rush Lake, Otter Tail Lake, Richville and the city of Ottertail.
Authorities set up a command center in Ottertail to oversee the efforts of about 80 volunteers and 40 law enforcement officers, said Lt. Mike Boen of the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Department.
The winds snapped power lines, damaged thousands of trees and shut down state Highway 78 temporarily between Perham and Battle Lake.
A number of cities east of Fergus Falls lost power during the storm.
Most had their power restored by late Monday afternoon, said Chris Kling, Otter Tail Power Co. public relations director.
The exact number of customers affected wasn't available, King said.
"There may be some customers without power even overnight," she said.
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"What that wind did is amazing," said Bill Beck, who has had a cabin on Otter Tail Lake near Ottertail since 1972.
The wind savaged oak trees in his yard and damaged his pontoon boat.
"I just put that boat in the water yesterday (Sunday), and now look at it," he said.
Ray and Marilyn Mounts have lived for 23 years on an 18-acre wooded lot near Ottertail.
"We've always thought it was an attractive lot. But it doesn't look as good now as it used to," Ray Mounts, who serves as Ottertail mayor, said Monday afternoon.
Limbs, branches and leaves cluttered the Mounts' front yard.
In the back, a toppled tree leaned on the house's roof.
"But there's no damage to the roof, so that's a good thing," said Mounts as family members began cleaning up the debris.
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Sandra Gladback's friends and family were helping with cleanup, too, on Monday afternoon.
Gladback planned to stay with relatives Monday night.
The mobile home wasn't insured, so she doesn't know where she and her husband - disabled by a stroke 10 years ago - will end up living.
"I'll be able to save some of the things in it. But there's no going back to live there," Gladback said.
Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple contrubuted to this article. Readers can reach Forum reporter Jonathan Knutson at (701) 241-5530
