rock uto arena

The first tornado to hit Billings in 52 years tore off the roof of this arena in moments, "just like paper," on Sunday evening, June 20th. The biggest enclosed sports arena in Montana, with a heavy schedule of name bands, conventions and rodeos, it had held over a thousand people at an indoor football game just the evening before.

Only one person was hurt ~ a man who was hit by a hailstone the size of a baseball ~ and, most importantly, no one was killed.

(The boy baby being born in a local hospital when it hit, however, may be stuck with the nickname, "Twister," forever....)

It doesn't show from this photo, but there was significant damage to the interior seats and offices ~ "a total loss," according to one official. Insurance will cover most of that. It is hoped that a new roof might be on by November and that substitute venues might be found for the events already scheduled for the rest of the year. If not, that loss of revenue could be more significant than the damage from the storm.

A nearby four-business strip mall was damaged to a similar degree, and wind and hail inflicted a somewhat lesser toll on homes within about a mile, but it's clear that it could have been much worse. If the tornado had struck with the same focused force in the large residential areas two or three miles further north, for example, the probable devastation does not bear thinking about.

We are all very grateful.