HALLIDAY, N.D. — Fifty years ago this week, a destructive tornado touched down near Halliday.

64-year-old Truman Ferebee and his wife survived the storm by huddling in the root cellar, but upon leaving the shelter, they saw nothing but destruction. Half their home was destroyed and most of their personal belongings disappeared in the storm.

“This is about all I got,” Ferebee said, pointing at the coveralls he was wearing.

The storm also destroyed about three miles of power transmission lines, resulting in extended power outages.

“I’ve lived in the area since 1912,” said Ferebee. “I’ve been through four fires, two floods, grasshoppers and the works, but this is the worst experience ever.”

Read more about the storm in archival snapshots.

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