Grand Forks in Grand Forks County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Blizzard "Hannah"

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 26, 2020

1. Blizzard "Hannah" Marker

Inscription.
On April 4, "Hannah" swept in, bringing a thick coat of ice that covered everything, followed by seven inches of wet, heavy snow, 70 mile per hour winds, and subzero temperatures.

The flood fight halted. Sandbags froze. Powerlines fell as poles snapped like matchsticks, leaving more than 100,000 people in the Red River Valley without power, some for up to a week.

Utility workers poured into the area from surrounding states, working around the clock to restore power to the freezing homes of residents. The local media provided a lifeline for the community.

Daily life became difficult and unease, anxiety, and exhaustion followed many into sleep. But the nightmare had only begun.

Erected by City of Grand Forks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Environment. A significant historical date for this entry is April 4, 1997.

Location. 47° 55.558′ N, 97° 1.916′ W. Marker is in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in Grand Forks County. It is at the intersection of North 3rd Street and 1st Avenue North on North 3rd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 North 3rd Street, Grand Forks ND 58203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Red River Valley.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Brutal Winter (here, next to this marker); The River Wins

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(here, next to this marker); The Flood Fight Begins (here, next to this marker); Evacuating Two Cities (here, next to this marker); Security Trust Company (a few steps from this marker); New Hampshire Apartments (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Dinnie Block (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Forks.

Also see . . . The Flood of 1997. The Greenway website entry (Submitted on April 20, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 26, 2020

2. Blizzard "Hannah" Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 1,897 times since then and 141 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.