North Dakota Tornado Kills Baby, Injures 28 In Watford City

WATFORD CITY, ND — A tornado tore through an RV park in North Dakota on Tuesday, killing a newborn baby, injuring more than two dozen people and destroying more than a 100 homes, according to officials and news reports.

The McKenzie County Sheriff's office confirmed Tuesday night that the newborn, who was just 7 days old, was killed after being injured in the EF-2 tornado. The sheriff's office said the infant sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital where he died.

The victim's name is not being released at the request of the parents, the sheriff's office said.

According to the county's emergency management officials, a total of 28 people were injured. At least three of the injured had to be airlifted to the hospital and six others were critically injured. The Bismarck Tribune reported that some 122 structures were destroyed and approximately 200 people have been displaced by the storm.

According to The Tribune, many residents said they had little warning before the tornado hit. The National Weather Service told the paper that after a severe thunderstorm warning issued by the agency, a follow-up statement said that a tornado was possible.

"My dog was with me and the next thing you knew the storm picked up my camper and slammed it on the ground. It felt like we were weightless," Clifford Bowden, 37, told The Associated Press.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Paul Martin classified the tornado as an EF2, which is defined by winds speeds between 111 and 135 mph. He said wind speeds reached 127 mph in Watford City. Martin told the Tribune the tornado touched down in a narrow strip of the RV Park.

“The damage in that narrow strip is just intense; it’s complete destruction,” Martin told the paper.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who was the mayor of Watford City from 2010 to 2016, surveyed damage at the RV Park on Tuesday.

“The extent of the damage here is devastating and mindboggling, with RVs utterly flattened and destroyed. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and displaced by this tornado,” Burgum said in a statement. “Fortunately, the community of Watford City is doing an amazing job offering assistance, providing food and water and finding shelter for those displaced. It will take a massive effort to clean up and recover from this tornado, and the state stands ready to help any way we can.”

The McKenzie County Emergency Management posted on their Facebook page that if anyone knew of housing the displaced families to contact them. The posting said to text 701-580-6936 with information. Displaced residents were asked to go to Watford City Civic Center.

Bugrum's office said the state's department of human services is working with local agencies to bring food and shelter to affected residents. State officials are also coordinating response with the American Red Cross.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Patch will update this report.

Photo: This aerial image from video, shot with a drone provided by HRI Aerial Imaging, shows damage at an RV park Tuesday, July 10, 2018, in Watford City, N.D., after a violent storm whipped through the northwestern North Dakota city overnight. More than two dozen people were hurt in the storm that overturned recreational vehicles and tossed mobile homes, officials said Tuesday. (HRI Aerial Imaging via Associated Press)