Published on May 27, 2014 by G-News
Tornado injures 9, destroys trailers at camp in North Dakota oil patch
Reports from the National Weather Service state that a man camp in the oil patch of North Dakota was struck by tornado on Monday. About 15 trailers were severely affected by the twister.
People were asked to stay away from the roads because emergency responders’ vehicles were having difficulties getting to the area.
There are no details yet on the number of injuries brought about by the twister. Authorities have not lifted the tornado warning.
Located 5 miles south of Watford City and 30 miles southeast of Williston’s oil boom center, the man camps, also called hastily-assembled trailer parks, are among the residence options of individuals looking for work in western North Dakota.
These structures can look like military barracks. Some workers stay in hotel rooms rented by their companies, while others sleep in tents and cars.
The demand for housing resulted to several developments in large areas of town. However, these housing developments are still not sufficient to keep up with the demand.
These makeshift cities always pop up around oil field sites. A lot of these guys this is how they live. They are welders, drillers, landmen, etc. They leave their families and follow the work. Pray for them, they are human beings trying to make a living like we all are. I am grateful I have been able to be grounded, but one day I may be in one of these make shift camper cities. I know a lot of people living like this.