Minneapolis tallies response to tornadoes

Cleaning up storm damage
Parks crews with chainsaws and woodchippers cleaned up downed trees and limbs in south Minneapolis, after a tornado last Wednesday swept through the area.
MPR Photo/Tim Nelson

One week after tornadoes ripped through the south metro area, officials with the city of Minneapolis have tallied up their response to the storm.

City inspectors determined about 450 structures were damaged by the severe weather, although no homes were damaged enough to require them to be vacated, according to city officials.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board also estimated about 250 boulevard trees were downed by the storm.

The city's 911 Center handled about 150 calls, dispatching emergency responders as needed during storm and its aftermath, officials said.

In the hours following the storm, Minneapolis police officers went door-to-door on more than 100 city blocks in the storm zone, looking for anyone who may have been hurt. No injuries were reported in south Minneapolis as a result of the tornado, officials said.

The city also added a new tool to its emergency response communications efforts, sending out five updates the day of the storm to its Twitter feed. The city has more than 2,000 followers on the popular micro-blogging site, officials said.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.