Buildings in Grand Marais encounter severe damage due to sustained high winds

Kalli Hawkins | December 24, 2022

This will certainly be a Christmas Eve to remember. One of the storms that linger in the minds of Cook County residents for years to come, just as the 1999 storm does for many.

The strong 60 mph winds continued throughout the evening of Dec. 23 along the North Shore. At around 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 23 there were reports of building damage in downtown Grand Marais. Cook County Law Enforcement blocked off a portion of downtown Grand Marais due to a business, Moose Tracks losing a portion of its roof. WTIP spoke with Law Enforcement at 5:30 p.m. following the closure. City crews were expected to clear debris that evening. However, city crews did not arrive to clear the debris on Broadway Ave until 7 a.m. on Dec. 24.

Sustained high winds continued throughout the evening and into Christmas Eve morning creating additional power outages and damage across the county. The city of Grand Marais lost power periodically between 7-7:40 a.m.

In addition to Moose Tracks, multiple businesses in town experienced damage due to the storm. The Cook County Historical Society Museum encountered window damage. North House Folk School shared photos on their Facebook page showing damage to a timber frame on their dock. South of the Border Cafe also shared photos showing damage to their roof and missing equipment. Last but not least, there is a mysterious dumpster that found its way to World’s Best Donuts. It can be found on the west side of the building.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office announced at noon Dec. 24, “If you are in an area that is experiencing an extended power outage and you need somewhere to get warm, please call dispatch and they will refer you to Cook County Public Health and Human Services. They have the resources for those who are in need of somewhere to stay, or just someplace to warm up. Please call 218-387-3030.”

While some individuals experienced losing power for less than hour, there are reports of many individuals in Cook County being without power for up to 21 hours. Regardless of the amount of time that individuals were without power, community members commended and thanked the numerous lineman working hard to restore power in the harsh conditions.

Arrowhead Cooperative crews are still working to resolve outages in many areas of the county. High winds are expected to continue throughout the day. Please call 218-663-7239 to report outages.

WTIP will be providing updates on air, our Facebook page, and the website throughout the remainder of the storm.

Photos from the power outages and damage in Grand Marais: