16 Hours Behind The White Wall / North Dakota - Minnesota Blizzard of 1984

[@steveprather8941]

Hi all, Steve Prather here. I directed and co-produced this documentary many years ago while working at Arden Films in Delaware (now Arden Media, located in Colorado). I’ve only just learned that this piece had been uploaded to KZbin. Many of the stories told in the comments section are simply incredible. I’ve enjoyed reading all the comments posted and am amazed that “16 Hours” still carries an impact, 30+ years later. Thank you all for sharing.

[@Gopher7]

Hi Steve... It's an honor to have you post here. I would like to visit with you sometime but I have no idea how to get hold of you. I am not a big time "KZbinr" so I am not sure how can contact you directly and I am hesitant to put any of my contact information in the public section in this forum. I will attempt to contact you via other means.

[@shirleyharrison2580]

Same here..some very interesting stories. I always love other people's stories.

[@grizzlycountry1030]

So you're to blame for this crap?

[@aprilchamberlain1677]

This was well done, thank you for doing it. I love hearing about the extreme weather. It's interesting to see & hear how people survived it in the time frame they are in. I was born during the 78 blizzard and have heard some crazy stories about that one. Again thank you! Thank you to the one who put it on KZbin, it was a pleasure to watch!!

[@jasonwomack4064]

Steve, thanks for making this piece of history. Also, thanks for not being one of those people who throw a fit about their older work being on KZbin.

[@lilybug246]

I was living in Fargo that winter. You can’t imagine what it was like.

[@SamanthaVPapke]

I was born in Herman, MN during this blizzard. My parents got stuck on their way to the hospital in Morris and were rescued and brought back to town where I was born at home early in the morning of February 5th. For my entire life, I've heard about this through family members who remember that day, so this documentary is incredibly fascinating to me. Thank you for sharing!

[@Gopher7]

I bet it was interesting for you to watch this video. Had you ever seen it, or heard about it before?

[@travisverble8189]

2/5/78 my bday

[@HarryBalzak]

@@travisverble8189 That's cool. What's your social? Maybe we share some numbers. ;)

[@pianomanhere]

Thanks for posting this documentary, made before the days when slickness became more important than simply recounting the events. Though we in the greater Chicago metro area have experienced blizzards over the decades (e.g. 1967, 1979, etc) people in MN and ND truly exemplify human hardiness, will and endurance. This film definitely attests to that.

[@dreadede]

How neat to have a documentary to go with your birthday story!! ❤️

[@timotoole100]

I was 18 and I will never forget this day...in fact I talk about it yearly telling people not to go out in this kind of non-sense. I worked at the local Piggly Wiggly store. That Saturday morning I started work at 7a.m. The wind chill was already below zero! That day customers inundated us thinking they couldn't survive without stopping here first. And they weren't leaving with a bag of groceries, they were leaving with 6-10 bags of groceries!! We, the carry outs, had to take turns, double coating, borrowing each others coats to add to ours, and travel the one minute, 50-150 foot walk, to the customers car. Upon getting back inside, the coats would be stripped off, given to the next carry-out and then we would spend the next 5-10 min. trying to get the feeling back in your hands, feet, faces, fingers, toes, cheeks you couldn't talk for the first 5min after getting in your mouth was so frozen...you get the idea. At around 12 noon, our head manager finally decided that, enough was enough and said it was getting too dangerous for us carry-outs to go outside. Besides, the radio announcer, the boss was listening to, was reporting wind chills of minus 85*F. No wonder it was taking us 15 min to recover from a one min jaunt into that parking lot. And the customers just kept coming...risking their lives, and ours, on a day (Saturday) that they didn't have to leave the house on. We closed at 1pm, which was the end of my shift anyway. I had been going out in that crap for 6 straight hours! I was exhausted, to say the least, and thinking people were crazy for venturing out in this on a day they didn't really need to leave the house. Anyway, I still had to get home. About 1 mile away...no problem. I had started my car at about 12:30, I actually couldn't believe it started for me, though it complained vehemently when it did.I got out to it but, still had to clean the window clear to see, then set off for the one minute drive home. Somehow, I got out of the employee parking lot, which was across the street from the store and headed down the side street towards home. Immediately, I realized all I could see was horizontal snow and the hood of my car. I could barely tell if my headlights were on or not. Top speed...1 MPH!! I was afraid I was going to hit a car parked on the street. A street I couldn't see, if you remember. I wouldn't see the parked car until it was right beside me outside my passenger window. Well, I made it down the six blocks to my first turn. That's when things really got interesting. I turned onto a street with open field on one side of it. It was the Universities ball diamonds and park. Now all I could see were my windshield wipers going back and forth on the windshield! I wasn't going to spend the next, who knows how long, in a Toyota Tercel freezing to death. I decided to keep going until, either I got home, or hit something. Besides, the streets were unusually clear in the center. Until my next turn. Which I only found because I almost hit the street sign on its corner. This street was also open on one side. But, ran east/west and had horrible drifts going across it. Top speed...you know. Still, all I could see were my wipers...back and forth. It's a strange feeling driving and, kid you not, not being able to see ANYTHING! I continued on, feeling the surreal effect of driving blind. Eight blocks left. Still had hit...nothing. I hoped my luck would hold out so, my dad would get his car back dent free. See, on Saturdays, he usually takes me to work so he can use the car if need be. I forget, now, why he didn't drive me that day...Oh! Yea...I'd be home by 1pm!! These last eight blocks were excruciatingly LONG... Finally, with my luck holding out, or more likely, by God's grace I made my last turn. BANG!! Right into a parked pick-up truck, I had never seen before, parked right in front of the house! Just kidding! I coasted smoothly right into the driveway finishing the most scary/dangerous yet, benign day of my life. Total travel time to get the one mile home...1hr 15min!! I slept the rest of that damn storm away safe and warm in my own bed...dreaming of my girlfriend no doubt.

[@Gopher7]

Wonder what town your adventure took place in Timothy? Weather that day in Fargo started out warm and sunny (as per the video). apparently was much different where you lived then. Not surprising as weather can be very different only a few miles away, but the extreme cold you described that morning sure was a sharp contrast.

[@howardfortyfive9676]

You are *quite the story teller Timothy O'Toole. Congrats on a safe journey home!*

[@Ms2amores]

Thank you for sharing your story...

[@TheLadyDiazepam]

Thank you for sharing that story! We had some harsh winters in southwest Michigan, but nothing like that.

[@erictroxell2298]

so glad you made it home. here in pa we ve had a few doozies and boy do i know what you mean about idiots being out. i worked at a mcdonalds across from a grocery store n every storm we got hammered . i swear people thought they d be trapped for weeks, when it was rarely more than a single day. as for your drive home, i lived in the mountains surrounding the town, and the fog would be pea soup thick. difficult to drive for sure, but thankfully not as deadly as what you all went thru.

[@Cynthia-fs4vi]

I'm from Georgia and lived here almost all my life. My Dad's family were all from northern Wisconsin; we'd visit them every summer when I was younger and in school. Later on I decided to visit one February just to see what it was like. I remember my aunt kept several heavy wool blankets, gallons of water, a shovel, sand, and a food rucksack in the backseat. She was prepared for something like getting caught out in a storm. She knew the weather was nothing to play around with. People should ALWAYS be prepared for whatever potential hazards their local weather can spring on them. Here we have hurricanes, so we keep candles, batteries, flashlights, water, snacks available. Keep a stocked medicine cabinet and also preparations for the pets.

[@lisasmith767]

I remember this storm it hit southern Minnesota just as hard. 85 mph winds got stuck driving with my dad south of Owatona to the south Metro, just awful. My dad was a pilot and flew during the Vietnam War. I knew I was in good hands but still pretty scary stuff.

[@bhiggins66]

Absolutely horrible sound. Why even post this crap ?

[@daubendiek]

I was stationed at GrandForks AFB for this blizzard.. what a time it was

[@lanecore75]

I live in the south where our severe weather is tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. I can't imagine how horrible that Blizzard was. Fascinating documentary. Kudos to all the good people of North Dakota. You folks are strong and caring people. It would be a blessing to have neighbors as nice.

[@tarantulady8565]

Lane Corbett I’m in Michigan & thankfully blizzards aren’t very common...👍 Where in the south are you? Have you had any snow this year? Seems everyone has...even my family in south Louisiana. 😬👎

[@masonw6205]

Thanks! I live in Fargo.

[@diannecockrell3210]

I live in Sweet Home Alabama. Not much to worry about as far as blizzards but it is so interesting to this Southern Bell. I have nothing but admiration for y’all who survive these challenges. We have tornadoes here.

[@melissasueh.]

Unfortunately, many of us have an over inflated idea of our own abilities. When the first cold weather comes around here, our -20 F sleeping bags go in the back of the SUV and the tools, tire chains, shovels, trail mix, jerky and rock salt are beside them. They stay there until the middle of April, to be available if I need them. The car gets parked in the garage at the beginning of each storm and stays there until the snow plows have cleared the roads after it is over.

[@davidwadsworth8982]

Allyssa Rae A. I do the same thing. Plus snacks and water. Just bought a little buddy propane heater, perfect size.Maintain a vent if I have to use it. Piece of cinder block in trunk to support it.But we put our cars is a tight line end ot end leaving just foot and a half to the street end of the driveway. Have almost no drive way to shovel out. Basically just what the plows pile up and I go out twice at night to knock that down. I am always the first out the next day.Neighbors are busting their ass and I am having a Southern Comfort and tea.in a beach chair with the Jimmy Buffet Sirus station blaring summer music.

[@kingleoxvii2463]

You're lucky to have a garage, I live in a townhouse and everytime I start my car in extreme cold, it curses st me. Lol

[@captainmorgan757]

My father (R.I.P.) told me of how, when he was a boy growing up on the farm in southeast Minnesota in similar weather conditions, that he would lightly grip the horse reigns and tell the horses "home". Even in near zero visibility, the horses would make it back to the barn every time.

[@TheLadyDiazepam]

Amazing

[@anashomestead5919]

Even horses in a blizzard could get confused & turned around, but as a child many times I put my safety in the full trust of a pony or horse to get me home safely.

[@lukewinkels6855]

Today we have autonomous driving cars??????? Wonder how they would fare in one of those prairie blizzards, electric cars with a solar roof.

[@aprilchamberlain1677]

My stepdad has said the same thing, horses just know or by instinct how to get home. It's amazing how they can do that!!

[@ekramer1030]

Wow. That trucker and the people who went out just to help because they could try. Those are some good people.

[@JakobieThaOutcider]

E Kramer thats my family the Grafts ❤ Dan Graff is my father

[@kesmarn]

@@JakobieThaOutcider Congratulations on having a wonderful family.

[@grizzlycountry1030]

Dan Graff charged me $500 for his help.

[@captainmorgan757]

My father grew up on a farm (in southeast Minnesota). When the visibility became to the point of only a few hundred feet, he would loosen his grip on the reigns, of the team of horses, and would say, "home", to the horses, and without fail the horses would make their way back to the barn. Incredible was their sense of direction! Even in whiteout conditions!

[@motherendurance]

I was 18 years old in Winnipeg and I will N#EVER forget that blizzard. Great documentary!

[@ardenmedia]

Thanks for posting...whoever you are, and thanks to you who have commented. We hope to run many of the programs we produced starting in the 1990's on our own youtube channel.

[@scttiedsntknow]

That would be great. I like watching programs like these. Its a blast from the past, if you will.

[@sassytoonsball-ruck58]

Please more

[@ZombieDog09]

I've only driven a few times in whiteout conditions and it's one of most terrifying things I've ever done, especially when you're on the highway with nowhere to pull off.

[@davidwadsworth8982]

Got snowed in at my girlfriends dorm in Oswego NY. Oneida Hall, SUNY Oswego, for about 5/6 days Jan.1972. Snowed about 2.5 inches an hour,at first,then it Really came Down. Could not see my car the next morning in the lot. L had driven thru the early stages of it on the way up.Followed the plows once I got on to rt 48. North in Liverpool NY. 481 was still under construction at the time.Made it,unloaded,parked ,forgot the Southern Comfort,went and got it from car,had a great time.Was a white out lake effect off Lake Ontario. Amazing.

[@steve5975]

My mom was in the Air Force, and we moved to Grand Forks AFB in July 1996; the winter of 1996-1997 was our first winter in ND. The area had eight blizzards, and the local weather personalities named the blizzards (the first to do so, that I know of; now that The Weather Channel names them). The last blizzard, Blizzard Hannah, was more an ice storm than a blizzard. The ice may have been quarter-to-half-inch thick or more; this knocked out power for about two weeks. This produced an amazing event that will always be ingrained in my memory, and that's sight of seeing Comet Hale-Bopp; with the power out for hundreds of miles, there was NO light pollution, you could see that comet from its head until the horizon. Of course the nearly constant Aurea Borealis as another sight to behold while driving home from high school. What followed a few weeks later was the Flood of 1997, that devastated Grand Forks, ND and East Grand Forks, MN. So while i did not live in North Dakota for this storm, I was also barely 7 months old; I do know the power and ferocity of Alberta Clippers.

[@Bohica706]

I grew up southeast of EGF. I was living in Texas at the time of this snow storm and the flood. I was keeping an eye on the news and the GF Herald said they would print the paper come hell or high water. the next day I saw a picture of the Herald building with water up to the windows and on fire. kind of sad but I had to laugh.

[@steve5975]

@@Bohica706 And if i recall, the headline the next day did say, "Come Hell or High Water," or maybe it said, "...and..." I remember working for the Herald after that, manual stuffing the paper sections together, since there were no machines to do it.

[@Cherokeelion]

That spring was brutal. Blizzard every week, hammering everything and snow clear into April. The ice storm was insane, snapped so many powerline poles. When things decided to melt, the Red River had ice floes the size of mini icebergs on the way to flooding Grand Forks. I told my wife at the time if the next winter was more of the same I was hanging up my truck driving keys.

[@steve5975]

@@Cherokeelion funny you mention truck driving. I just started driving trucks a few months ago, finally in my own truck, and hunkering down here in PA, waiting for this snow storm to pass.

[@Cherokeelion]

@@steve5975 yeah the next year wasnt so bad. Im still drivin haha.

[@anashomestead5919]

There are some incredible survival stories tucked away in this video. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@jamesogrady6612]

Ana's Homestead Buffalo, NY 1977 Blizzard was bad for our reputation, The whole country called us SNOW CAPITAL OF USA. I don't blame people we got 19 feet of snow that winter. Took till June for it to melt. City & Schools were closed for 3 weeks. It is bad here we still get 10-12 feet every winter from Lake Erie. No one can figure out of all Citys near 5 Great Lakes why Buffalo gets the most snow. Some years ST. PATS PARADE cancelled because of to much snow. Always WHITE XMAS IN BUFFALO

[@anashomestead5919]

@@jamesogrady6612 Hey! Hello out there! I have got a question for you. I keep seeing all these people claiming some Great Solar Minimum, & I think they are mistaking normal cycles of nature. I think they have bad memory, & increased access to poor information. Here is my question: What do you think of it? I have been in so many odd ball weather situations in my lifetime... I think it is normal for anything to happen in any season. I think you should just be preppared to be warm or cool, & have some food on hand for when strange things happen that are "normal". lol

[@mariekatherine5238]

Reminds me of 1977 blizzard in Northern NY. We entered and exited the house via my brother's upstairs bedroom window. My Dad made steps out of firewood and put a rope to steady ourselves. Mom went out once and nearly didn't get back in. Grandma didn't go out at all for over a month. I remember Dr. Chamberlain making a house call to see her. When it finally melted, our basement had four feet of water. We don't get winters like that anymore.

[@TheLadyDiazepam]

I remember blizzards in Michigan, and even Ohio in the 1970s and 1980s. Sad how global warming is destroying the climate of my childhood. Today's children won't be able to experience that.

[@richarddennis3791]

I was residing in north Buffalo, NY during the blizzard of 1977. Animals were walking out of the zoo because the 15 foot fences were covered by the snow drifts.

[@mariekatherine5238]

@@richarddennis3791 I think I remember hearing about that!

[@mariekatherine5238]

@@TheLadyDiazepam Quite a name you have! Call me crazy, but I love a good 8 feet of snow with 20 ft. drifts! I also like -20° F or lower! Unfortunately, I now live in NYC where they have zero knowledge of how to handle the 12-16" we very rarely get. For plows, the DPW puts tire chains on the rear tires of garbage trucks, slaps a bread-knife of a blade in front. They get stuck or do next to nothing. NOBODY knows how to drive in snow and ice. Since they don't begin plowing until all the snow has fallen, people get stuck, have crashes, and end up abandoning their vehicles. Whenever it snows, my car stays parked and I walk or take the subway. A warm climate is probably good for the city. I still get to go to Racquette Lake NY, in the Adirondacks every February. There's still lots of snowpile back in the woods where I have a rustic cabin.

[@brycewalsh1773]

I live in cny I’ve always wanted a storm like that although we always get a lot of snow I feel it’s a surreal experience to have so much come down in 24 hours

[@GottaWannaDance]

Thanx for your efforts gopher7777. I've driven through blinding storms and fog with my door open, creeping along to catch a glimpse of a white / yellow line. My farming uncles and grandpa always said to bring a sleeping bag, boots, wool sox, blankets, food, candy, gloves and extras of each. Thanx again for the reminders that we humans sometimes don't have the sense to listen or even act. We think we know better.

[@TempoDrift1480]

The only thing worse than that is when the snow is so wet that you can't dump it. Roll that bucket forward and your back wheels come off the ground. Raise that dump bed and nothing.

[@jeffheffner5653]

I was 7, living in Grand Forks. This storm is what made my father put in for a transfer to Charleston SC. We've been here ever since.

[@rosieasmrwhispererzephier7021]

Do you remember the Numerous Blizzards that Clobbered Grand Forks North Dakota in late 1996-1997 and do you remember the Massive Flood in Grand Forks also

[@jamesogrady6612]

Jeff Heffner That happens in Buffalo, NY we used to have 500,000 people now were down to 250,000. Its crazy here 10-12 feet of snow every winter from Lake Erie. People also leave because of NY Taxes. It really does suck here Bills fans don't go to games in December or January, & some years ST. PATS PARADE gets cancelled because of to much snow. I will admit Buffalo is ranked as #1 City for most snow. Always WHITE XMAS IN BUFFALO

[@kimmurphy2119]

I was at Concordia in Moohead when this storm hit and thought of it a couple of weeks ago when I flew back into Fargo-Moorhead for a funeral. I came out of the terminal and there was a dusting of snow on the ground, came around the corner towards the rental cars and got hit with 45 mph winds and freezing temps. By the time I got into the car, it was about as cold as I'd been in 10 years! 19th Ave N is the only route to and from the airport and it still feels naked driving between University & I-29.

[@MrOramato]

I spent 50 years in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I always carried 500 ft of rope (so I could leave my car to find firewood, relieve myself and follow the rope back to my car. I also carried Sorel Boots, A heavy wool blanket, and a large diameter candle with three wicks, matches, and a flint. With these items alone my chances of survival in a blizzard increased exponentially. On one occasion while driving a borrowed vehicle that had almost no provisions I nearly paid with my life and that of my girlfriend. I ended up having to consume her (joke). Well we consumed each other, if you get the drift. But seriously being caught out in -40 or lower temperatures is normally a death sentence that is merciless. I remember the 84 blizzard but was in Wisconsin and so escaped it.

[@TairnKA]

I lived in Wahpeton North Dakota (45 miles south of Fargo) for a few years in the late 70s. One night it got down to -63 with wind chill factor (the record was -83 20 miles away). Unfortunately there was a fire at an old hotel and similar conditions existed except the hotel was nearly destroyed by the frozen water from the hoses hitting it. I left the following spring.

[@jchow5966]

I remember this storm. About 6 years ago we had a much worse one in MN. We used to hear stories about the 1940s kiiller blizzard to when we were kids and teenagers. There were many harrowing and sad stories.

[@katnew4408]

Had to cover up in my blanket on the couch just thinking about this!!!

[@tostentwo]

I was there. It blew in just like the say. A wall. I was driving against the wind across Fargo and suddenly my pickup seemed way to smooth and quiet. I kept steering with the radio on and then realized that the engine had died. I was standing still but the whole world was blowing by so thick it looked exactly like I was traveling about 50 mph. I got it started and followed curbs all the way home, between the heavy sections.

[@northernpianomusic]

This is incredible. Thank you for sharing it. I looked for this video for years - I had seen it on the local public station, but could never find any other info about it. Chilling and sobering account.

[@ardenmedia]

We are the owners of the video: now called Arden Media LLC. We have moved to Denver Colorado. ardenmedia@gmailcom

[@KHILDREMYR]

I was born and rise in Grand Forks ND I had paper route that year I was Junior in high school I remember that blizzard of 1984 I stilll remember flooding 97

[@erictroxell2298]

thanks for posting. i actually remembered this from 84. my dad was one of the few rare people who owned a satellite dish at the time. i often watched weather channels, other stations, etc.. as you could watch almost anything in the world in the early era of satellite tv.

[@mugnumps7910]

Only thing I remember about storm was my CB radio and my 4X4. Don't remember how many cars I pulled. Mpls didn't get as hard as other areas.

[@JakobieThaOutcider]

This is my family Dan Graff is my father

[@Gopher7]

That is so cool Jakobie! So, it was your sister aunt (Rebecca) who was stuck with her family with the truck driver? I have to imagine you have heard about that storm many times over your life. Are you or any of your family still in the area? Have you ever met any of the other people highlighted in that story? I am only guessing from the age of many of them and the fact that the storm was 34 years ago that many of them may no longer be with us. I am curious if you have ever seen this video, and if you have a copy of it other than here? Any insight you could provide would be of interest here. I hope you and your family are well. (Dan Graph is at 27:55) and likely other places in this video for those interested. Thank you for commenting Jakobie!

[@kentfromwales5367]

Jakobie Graff very cool! (No pun intended).

[@maxshea1829]

Life-long New Englander here. Seen my share of blizzards. A couple can rival ND/NM for duration and drifting, but the proximity of the Atlantic ocean tempers temperatures, and the hills cut the winds down a bit.

[@curtis8954]

I know how to drive in snow. what scares me so bad, is some drivers will not slow down, and drive careful. they are the ones that cause wrecks. SLOW DOWN

[@prettyrainbows9714]

"The world becomes like the inside of a bag of flour" LOVE her comparisons.

[@emdaughtry2576]

I was 8 years old and snow skiing in Beech Mountain, NC when this terrible storm occurred. I never heard about it until now. I wish I had been there instead of NC. I love natural disasters. I usually go rent a high rise hotel room in Myrtle Beach, SC when there is a hurricane coming :-) Much respect and love for the people that went through this and the heroes that went into action to save lives. Good job on the medium conversion. Transferring from Video 8 is almost impossible and from VHS increasingly more difficult. But it was well-done here.

[@beulahcarter8045]

Thanks for sharing. Very good footage

[@joannayeo9545]

Thank you for posting this, it was very interesting. The date is my birthday and I was 18 when this happened but I live in the UK so was safe and warm. How people manage in extreme weather has always amazed me.

[@bonniegarber9915]

I am still amazed as to why every vehicle, every driver does not have an emergency bag with them! One or two glass candles will last for hours and actually help heat a car, fits in a cup holder and provides comforting light. Emergency blankets that reflect your body heat. A coffee can with lid and t.p. and easy to store, easy to eat food! All can be easily stored in a bucket with a lid, that doesn't take up much room and is nicely organized.

[@pamelaleigh4225]

Sensible! I lived way up in the mountains in CO for awhile and never had anything with me. Never thought of it!

[@maggiesmith856]

The "coffee can with lid and tp" is an emergency heater. The tp is soaked in rubbing alcohol . Light it with a match and it will burn for quite a while and keep you from freezing.

[@allandavis8201]

Great ideas about emergency kits, food etc, but be mindful that any naked flame requires oxygen to burn, so unless you are 100% sure that fresh air/oxygen can get into the vehicle to replace the oxygen depleted air then DON’T have a naked flame as you can easily suffocate very quickly and without even knowing something is wrong, same goes for running the engine to provide heat through the heater/ac, unless there is a free flow of air to keep engine emissions from getting into the car (basically air needs to get in to allow for the engine to run) and the exhaust needs to be clear to allow the emissions to vent to atmosphere and not get into the vehicle causing carbon monoxide poisoning, again it can happen very very quickly and you would just feel tired 💤 whilst you slip into unconsciousness, followed rapidly by death. It’s worth thinking abut buying some self heating MRE packs from a survivalist or military surplus store, make you feel so much better than lungs full of death.

[@janetoconnor3636]

I agree Bonnie all drivers need to be prepared in their cars JUST in case something like this happens. Everyone should just prepare.

[@bonniegarber9915]

@@maggiesmith856 lol... I was thinking more of a "P" can, but hey... a small bottle of vodka would store well in the middle of the paper roll... and yes, heat and light.

[@scottmorrow9794]

Oh my,Jon Lindgren was the mayor in fargo,in the 70s...hes at 43-30...i sold him a new chevy chevette in 1978

[@punkmonkey880]

Living in the 218 area code (and surrounding areas) makes one appreciate...as well as utterly respect...the forces of Nature. Minnesota Strong!!

[@elainekain]

I remember this storm, because I donned 3 pairs of long johns and walked 2 miles to town at 7 a.m. for coffee and smokes. The plows hadn't been by yet and walking was exhausting in about 2 feet of snow, but kept me warm with -60 F. wind chills. Luckily, the restaurant owners had taken snowmobiles to work and opened up for fools like me... A few hours later the plows had made it through and the walk home was easier. Garrison MN had 7 foot drifts in places coming off Mille Lacs Lake. It was a surreal walk, nothing moving except me and blowing snow for the 2 miles into town. "It was a doozey."

[@lostindiancamp]

No way I would have got out in that for coffee and smokes. If I had enough food and heating fuel to keep warm, nothing short of one of my loved ones in trouble would have got me out.

[@tarantulady8565]

Coffee. I’d go for coffee. 🤔

[@deniseellis7982]

Amen to that!!

[@normatible9795]

Don’t you hAve coffee at home?

[@fbksfrank4]

Elaine Kain score yourself a nice set of snowshoes for the next one!

[@brentaudi9354]

Amazing stories in the videos and comments.

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

Minnesota.. That place gets cold...Even today....

[@usaresident8181]

There was a blizzard that hit central ND in April 1984. Haven't been able to find much on it, but I certainly remember it.

[@jaymetheaccountant]

USA Resident remember getting caught in that storm, best friend got married that Saturday in Garrison. Fierce storm almost killed us all.

[@BeautifulSpirit-kf5ld]

Driving in a white out a squall that came out lake Ontario, I almost died in 84. I didn't know squalls were forecast. Drove into it, at night, after my night job . Visibility zero , just a white vortex outside the car . if you've never been in a white out, it is the worst fear . You get vertigo ... left is white, right is white, behind you is white .

[@Gopher7]

Yep... Been driving in winter in a truck for over 40 years. Never get used to that situation.

[@SarahWestCrazyTaxiQueen]

Just as memorable as Minnesota’s worst blizzard 44 years before, the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940.

[@lj9524]

Ahhh…the memories of Minnesota blizzards. I remember one big blizzard in the mud1960s. Snow drift up to the peak of the garage. With climate change it seems it is either lits of snow or very luttle snow.

[@meangreen7389]

Thank for your efforts and for sharing the vid.

[@stephenkerkvliet3279]

Very Nice! I know how long creating these things can take. I recall sliding off the roof of our house with a sled and going all the way across the street.

[@HarryBalzak]

People going out in blizzards sounds so insane to people from the southern US.

[@Mike-vt6nc]

Great 80’s Documentary

[@scottmorrow9794]

I used to work with Art Lunde at Pierce printing in fargo in the early 70s at the 35.17

[@ripmuhammadali7419]

there are some storms that are worth a few years of memory then there are others worth an entire lifetime

[@DavidLee-oj3tz]

I remember staying in the house for the 66 blizzard it covered a lot larger area

[@janetoconnor3636]

Thanks Gopher for liking my comment must people don't like when I say this but I heard this from science speaking on Radio News reports mostly after 1977 and again in 1978 they used the old SOHIO Freeze Sounder than.

[@jacklandon9933]

One thing that would help immensely is new labor laws that mandate that everyone, not just government, has liberal leave when the government says, "Emergency Personnel Only".

[@welderella]

Jack Landon yes! Absolutely! Like kids don’t get punished for not going to school when it’s closed...parents shouldn’t have to go to work, when their kids are home off from school, who would look after them?

[@garyteague4480]

About 5 or six years ago I got caught in a bad winter storm here in the ozarks of Missouri, it was terrible and there were times I didn’t know what to do , I could not see the road , I was on highway 72 between Salem and Rolla and I began to listen for the warning stripes that were in the middle and on the side of the road and that how I kept going , every few hundred yards I had to stop and nest the ice off my wipers and they were shredding, dangerous place to be in and it was nothing like what these people went through

[@seththomas9105]

I was in 8th grade and living in North Central Iowa in 1984. That was one of the 3 fucked up bad winters we had in the early 80's. 77-78-79 were bad 82 and 83 were bad, 85 and 86 was "normal". The late 80's and 90 were pretty dry and 2010 was the last time I can remember a cold and snowy winter in Iowa as a whole. The last 30 years over all have been "warm" and "dry" winters here.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

Nice interesting video. Btw, I hope "Sgt." Casswell never got into any trouble for wearing those lt col's oak leaves.

[@scottolsen8582]

I had a friend in the AF Res. who was a sergeant. He was promoted Major due to his degree and experience. Three years later he was a Lt. Col.

[@howardfortyfive9676]

HA HA WHAT A JOKER!!

[@viktuutee]

My mother in law has many pictures from that year. She told me that it was very bad winter. And my husband was so little...

[@jaredanders7820]

thank you -Fargoan

[@altestic9436]

The graffs I like those people. I remember.

[@jimrossi7708]

When I lived in Northern Maine I had a 1978 Ford Bronco/Ranger 4 wheel drive with a 8’ Western plow on the front, plus each October i would put 10 50# bags of traction sand in the rear of the Ford, that thing did a great 👍🏼 job, what a vehicle but I had a good teacher in my God Father who I watch as a small child growing up !

[@po2313]

He's a Lt. Colonel!!!! Argggggg!!!

[@ArtisteBleue]

Precisely why I moved away from Northern Wisconsin near Lake Superior to Northern California in 1978.

[@janetoconnor3636]

I would like to add to my comment recently that it was so cold in my house during the 77 the wind chill being about 80 below my hands got chapped so it was likely below 55 degrees in the house we had to dress in outdoor gear in the house and I wore wool mittens with Vaseline to help my chapped hands. They said empahtically in news reports we are in the return of the ice age and I remember also the SOHIO weather sounder used for record low which 25 below zero. We had power Just NO HEAT.

[@allandavis8201]

I understand how it would be so easy to become complacent when weather warnings are posted and then come to nothing, but surly it’s better to have a few hours of inconvenience and the weather service put out an apology than to disregard the warning and end up in peril, or worse, dead. I like programmes about extreme weather and have watched many many documentaries about them, and it’s a common theme throughout them all, whether it’s tornadoes 🌪 hurricanes or blizzards, and that’s people not heeding the warnings and/or forecasts and ending up dead. I am lucky that I live in the United Kingdom where our extreme weather is normally rain and high winds causing flooding and wind damage, yes we do have fatalities and injuries, but they are definitely a lot lower than in other extreme weather prone countries and regions, our biggest problems are more infrastructure damage and loss of livelihood, and due to the fact our weather service has a far smaller area to predict the weather patterns for they are usually quite accurate and detailed, except for the one time they said categorically that the “story” of a hurricane going to hit us was wrong, and then the next day the country was gobsmacked after a hurricane tore through the country the previous night (not anything like the ones experienced across the pond, but bad enough) that had claimed quite a few lives and caused a huge amount of damage, the meteorological office and a certain Mr Michael Fish had very red faces and a lot of explaining to do. Over the last few weekends in early 2020 we have had so much rain and high winds that we have had major widespread flooding, but luckily most people had heeded the warnings and advice so that fatalities and injuries were kept very low, but the infrastructure damage is massive and ongoing. Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative film 🎥😔👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Gopher7]

Dj Phantom Thanks for the note and the education from across the pond!

[@allandavis8201]

gopher7777 , and thank you for posting such interesting documentary’s, please keep up the hard work. 👍😀🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@rogersimpson9725]

We knew the storm was gearing up so I strapped on a backpack and decided to hike to the liquor store. I trudged through an alley full of deep snow and saw something red at my feet. I brushed the snow away and discovered I was standing on a car. Lol

[@paulsuprono7225]

Served in the Air Force, up there - Minot AFB . . Minot, ND. Once came back from leave via 'space-a,' on military aircraft. This medivac . . via Scott AFB, IL had no mission for Minot AFB . . ergo overflew to Grand Forks AFB, ND . . on the east edge of the state. Hitching back to Minot . . . in January, was foolish . . lucky to arrive at Minot AFB without any major frostbite. Such is the potential threats, for flying for free - Space-A - on military aircraft. They don't always fly where you wanna go. Potentially hazardous . . .

[@annmargaret1069]

The maker of The White Wall may have passed away, if you can't find the owner, it maybe the answer.

[@ardenmedia]

We are the owners of the video: now called Arden Media LLC. We have moved to Denver Colorado. ardenmedia@gmailcom

[@1954crc]

Amazing story.I was wondering,could Wayne Hendrickson have driven his snowmobile slowly to the nearest farmhouse? I know that he couldn't hardly see past his hood,but to walk that last mile could have killed him.Did I miss something in this video? Thanks for the posting!

[@Gopher7]

The problem he had was he could not see Charles. I have personally been lost in a storm like this.., on foot when I was 12 years old. I was in a familiar neighborhood only a few hundred feet from my house, and I had no idea where I was. I had wandered onto a vacant lot and was walking in circles. I finally looked up and saw some power lines and remembered where they were at and followed them (luckily the right direction) back to my street and home. I was out for about an hour and had severe frost bite on my face and hands. I cannot even imagine what Wayne must have went through. I remember this storm very well, and that is why I searched out and posted the documentary. At the time I lived in North Fargo, less than 2 miles from 19th Ave N where the 4 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the storm..Hardly seems like 30 years ago. Thanks for the nice comment.

[@1954crc]

gopher7777 Thanks for the info.I'm from southern Minnesota and I remember this storm.It's difficult to imagine a storm where one couldn't see at all.I guess I'm the kind of person who would drive 2 MPH blindly than walk and crawl blindly.I'm glad that he survived.

[@MrRayWinger]

With this storm happening in the mid 80's, why didn't they even think about tracked vehicles, like military's APC's or snow mobiles to get to critical areas like, PD,FD, and medical facilities.? I've been away from snow problems for fifty years but, I still have common sense enough to know that tracks are much more reliable than tires. That's why the military uses them A LOT. No way should anyone live in snow country and not be prepared for a serious storms 7-24. I'm amazed.

[@tylerjerabek5204]

Ray Winger remember that for quite a while the visibility was zero. Hitting something with a snowmobile is worse for the rider than hitting in a car After it quiets down, yes I definitely see your point

[@chuckyufarley2999]

I grew up in the RRV and have lived in Northern Minnesota my entire life, and the reason everyone doesn't have tracked vehicles is blizzards typically don't scare people here like they would people who don't experience them multiple times a year. I grew up driving rear wheel drive vehicles almost exclusively in an area where 3 inches of snow and 20 mph winds would cause drifting and visibility issues that would shut down travel in most parts of the country, but here you learned to deal with it. Honestly, I was a senior in high school when this storm hit, and I haven't the foggiest recollection of it. I'm sure at the time it just seemed like any other storm. Now, ask me about Halloween '91 and Spring of '97 when we had to deal with blizzards every other day along with flooding the likes of which had never been seen in the area, and I'll have stories to tell you.

[@christianroman780]

Thank god for cell phones and modern weather forecasting and weather apps.

[@kennashan]

Those only work if you are willing to heed the warning.

[@Terrasblessed]

this happened on my 4th birthday. I remember we got stuck at the house behind ours and couldn't get home. couldn't even see our house.

[@ShiftaelV2]

Ed Anderson was very handsome!! And I was still in Wisconsin when that happened and only 15 years old :D

[@ML-fm1xs]

Makers of this video identify themselves at bottom/ beginning of this comments section

[@joshstreich4426]

Wow! North Dakota And Minnesota Are both Farm States That have Good Winter Weather In December And January!

[@tammysims8716]

Does anyone know if the lady's horse and its baby survived?

[@Gopher7]

She said at the end of the video that the horses were "just fine".

[@tammysims8716]

@@Gopher7 hey thanks. Don't know how I missed it. Relieved.

[@Flightstar]

People get seriously stupid in desperation, endangering themselves in impossible conditions. Imagine being reasonably hold up someplace and you discover later they perished trying to find you in an area of 30 sq miles in conditions that visibility is 10 feet in -30 blowing 50mph. Just needlessly mindless.

[@GaryGraves-lz4fg]

I met my boyfriend during this storm, we had to cuddle up in his car. My vehicle wouldn't start. It was the beginning of a glorious 4 year relationship

[@scottr5775]

Blizzard stay home hurricane get out end of story.

[@oldtanker2]

Guys says he doesn't know why people go out in storms like that. Living 90 miles from Fargo I'll tell you why. It's called stupidity. After the winter or 96/97 some states passed what's know as "the stupid law". If a county sheriff say no travel if you go out, get stuck and have to be rescued you have to pay for the plow and plow operator to get to you. For the wrecker. For the cop's time to come out and write you the ticket for being out there in the first place. And or course for the ticket that can run 700 dollars or so for the 1st offence. What the biggest problem is are the guys. "Ain't nobody gonna tell me I can't drive"! "Ain't that bad out there"! Then too you have as demonstrated by the one woman the horse people. Darned horses are more important to them than other people and or family members. They too will risk life and limb, there own, kids, yours and mine over a darned horse. Interesting video.

[@lilsuzq32]

Those people are still alive today. They are called Republicans, and they are *indignant* if you say they have to pay for their stupidity. After all, they paid for it already through their inadequate public edjukamashun...

[@rubinturner8233]

Unreal.

[@bhiggins66]

Too bad you can't hear this.

[@Gopher7]

Hear what? Audio in video is fine.

[@jimburg621]

pick one, stranded at a church or a restaurant/bar?

[@kgbeezr75]

Restaurant/bar. Can't eat a pew. ;)

[@dinasyoyos6384]

Restaurant UNLESS THE CHURCH IS FULL OF WATER FOOD SNACKS ALONG WITH COTS AND BEDDING.

[@janetoconnor3636]

Like a said before NEITHER a Church or a Bar. Just stay HOME.

[@RonaldSpirk-21442]

This was horrible so many people died 😢

[@mrbriggs68]

Being stranded at a bar sounds better than a school or church

[@janetoconnor3636]

IMHO its not got good to stranded anywhere since I was stranded at a Hospital in 2004 before Christmas did not get home until it was dark and a friend drove me home at a snail's pace. NO FUN.

[@101southsideboy]

that guy at 36:02 is a SGT? His rank looks more like a Major of a LT COL

[@1776_Garage]

That's what I said. My comment has been taken down. I guess they can't admit they made a mistake. I was in the Airforce.

[@1776_Garage]

It was silver oak leaves. That's Lt Col

[@Michiganian8]

I wouldn’t discuss of how Ignorant I was on TV

[@ardenmedia]

We are the owners of the video: now called Arden Media LLC. We have moved to Denver Colorado. ardenmedia@gmailcom

[@Gopher7]

I have sent an email in an attempt to contact you. Thank you for posting!

[@fedupwithfed4047]

He should've rode the "snowmobile" ...maybe...I don't know

[@granskare]

Lake Superior ?

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

ALL HAIL OUR GOD THE MOBILE PHONE

[@spiked200]

in feb. 1984 I was barely 2 months old

[@joshgerszewski]

I would have been about a month and a half old at the time of this storm

[@josephmackela8466]

What year was this documentary made?

[@Gopher7]

If memory serves, in 1986. I did have a phone conversation with the producer who lived in the area at the time but had moved before the production of this film.

[@josephmackela8466]

Thought it was in that era.

[@altestic9436]

That wasn't that bad I didn't think..

[@oceanhouse8080]

Cell phones in 1984? Lol

[@Mhel2023]

...hardly any, thank God. A beeper here and there, that's about it at the time

[@johnsmith7676]

Yes, believe it or not. Motorola DynaTAC "Brick phones" became available in 1983. Appropriately named, too. They were rare, though. And damned expensive.

[@mugnumps7910]

I only had CB radio and 4 X 4...

[@janetoconnor3636]

Mostly CB was used back then this the late 20th Century.

[@frasierthebichon7422]

This was the worse time in my life. I lost 2 members of my family. My father and uncle owned an adult novelty store. Both of them were killed when a big gust of wind from the blizzard blew the giant neon dildo that was one the roof right on them. They were both crushed to death. So horrifying. I’m still scarred.