Storms wreak havoc across MN, WI

there's a severe thunderstorm warning in effect we're expecting 60 MPH 60 MPH heard well you can hear that warning message tonight's storm sent Minnesota fairgoers running for cover for the second time this week that was a look at police warning all of those fairgoers before intense wind and heavy rain rolled through a phone alert also sent out to people's phones there on the fairgrounds our Courtney Godfrey was there when the storm hit and she has a look at how people reacted and how quickly things returned to normal as you can see the severe weather didn't scare off all fairgoers as there are plenty of people still out here enjoying the Soggy conditions but it wasn't like this all day it wasn't until about 4:30 when the rain came in quickly and with force it was a mass move towards the exits when this alert came through urging Minnesota state fairgoers to seek shelter after the other night uh not not sure we want to wait around as some said they learned from storms earlier in the week that it wasn't worth staying it was just uh pardon the description a sweaty mess and you're not ready for a repeat of that no no no I don't I I don't want that but when the storm hit there were plenty of people who chose to stay seeking shelter where they could as heavy rain moved in quickly police urging everyone to get in inside before the storms eventually let up didn't last long it was quick and we're out and enjoying backing the food we knew most people would be going inside we also went inside but we come back out not nearly as busy less lines and yeah shorter we times so it was worth staying most definitely riding it out and embracing the Soggy aftermath we knew it was going to rain so I brought my little rain jacket I brought his rain jacket and we just kind of prepared for it weather doesn't change by attitude I'm my Minnesotan as fun was had rain and shine it's always a good time in State Fair how could it not be a good time in State Fair there are six designated storm shelters throughout the fairground the grand stand being the biggest of them all and tonight there The Show Goes On as mle crew is the featured performer at the Minnesota State Fair Courtney Godfrey Fox sign and I wish we could bring you a clip of that show all right about 30 minutes away from the state fair and Champlain strong wind uprooted massive trees like those that you see there we spoke to a child who described the aftermath most of the trees were knocked over there was um our flag pole was bent in 3/3 wow it's still like that and efforts to clean up in Champlain are already underway as you can imagine meantime in Cottage Grove Heavy Rain Led to some flash flooding there that's a look at drivers trying to make their way through deep water water on 80th Street by Crestview Elementary the city sent out a notice that the mayor has declared a state of emergency and that crews are still assessing the damage the city will also get added help from Washington County Public Works to help remove debris tomorrow while we want to head to St Francis now that is where our Mary Maguire is with another look at some of the storm damage no neighbors here in Oak grve tell me that this storm was over just as quickly as it began snapping trees and taking down power lines in the the process I took my dog and went downstairs and I really thought when I came up that my house was going to be gone but thankfully Thursday afternoon storm sounded a lot worse than it was at Sue Eden's house in Oak Grove that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of cleanup to do though she lost dozens of trees including one that her parents gave her more than 30 years ago the wind and rain made a mess of her garden and beehives too it'll be okay it's a mess but it's it's not our house and it's it's not my kids and my grand just up the road the powerful winds took down a power line knocking out electricity to homes in the area for several hours reporting in Oak grve Mary Maguire fox9 and that was Mary McGuire reporting communities in Greater Minnesota also cleaning up from this afternoon storms one of them is Piers where we had one of our town ball stops earlier this summer next door um across the highway the shed um Bo shed was demolished uh down by the lake I live just on the Lake Road and there's pontoons flipped over um down the highway a little bit there's a a Chicken Barn that's I think half of it's gone it looks like so yeah lots of damage I know north of town a few miles there's there's also lots of damage that was Mike poser who will be busy cleaning up a lot of branches he was working around 3 40 this afternoon when that tornado warning for the area went into effect he was at his job at the bank and he says everybody hustled to the basement and he felt like the storm passed pretty quickly thanks for um sticking with us here we still have about 15 more minutes of news and weather so we'll be right back