Sunday Storm Closes Down Brainerd-Area Youth Camp
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - A Brainerd-area youth camp owned and operated by the American Legion will remain closed for several weeks after sustaining damage during Sunday night's storm.
The Legion's state adjutant Randy Tesdahl has been on site most of the day, on the shore of North Long Lake.
"It is bad," he said. "There are a lot of trees down. The main road that goes in off of County Road 3 for about a mile was totally impassable. We were using the ditch with four-wheel drives."
No one was hurt and the 138 campers who just arrived at the Legionville Safety Patrol Camp Sunday are on their way home.
"Now the road is open, and we've got buses picking up kids, so I'm out making a quick food run to get some food in there for those kids that are still on site," said Tesdahl, who's from St. Francis.
About 100 large trees and several utility poles were knocked down, and one of the newest buildings has roof damage.
"It stung a little bit to see a big hole in the roof," Tesdahl said. "But we're going to get through it."
The big problem now is restoring power to the camp, which was completely knocked out. The American Legion's state convention is this week in Morton, and Tesdahl says the camp is going to be a major topic of discussion.
"If we can get that power restored, we can be up and running in a couple of weeks," Tesdahl said. "That's the goal."
Tesdahl said everyone who had made plans to visit the camp this week will be given an opportunity to return for their programs.
