Sunday afternoon La Crosse joined the growing list of communities hit by tornadoes this spring as a twister swept across the southern end of the city knocking down trees and pulling the roofs off houses.

In the aftermath of the storm mayor Matt Harter had to declare a state of emergency, and a 15 block area near Gundersen Lutheran hospital had to be evacuated due to a suspected gas leak.

Meanwhile La Crosse Logan/Central head coach, and Green Island Ice Arena rink manager, Greg Sears was in the building painting the players boxes.

“The wind picked up and I had begun to shut all the doors when I heard the ‘train sound’ everybody talks about,” said Sears. “I ran for cover in the high school locker room.”

Sears hid under his desk in the coaches’ office as the tornado passed overhead. “It was a helpless feeling as little pieces of cement fell on and around me,” Sears added. “After the noise went away, I ran up to the front of the building.  Power lines and trees were everywhere so the fire department had to come to get me out of the building.”

“It was a rush that I hope I never experience again,” Sears said.

Had the tornado passed a mere hour later, 30 girls would have been in the building for roller derby and the story would be much different.