Litchfield and Watkins were among the hardest hit areas Monday when storms produced at least four tornadoes across central Minnesota.
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Authorities in Meeker County say 15 to 20 homes were damaged by tornadoes Monday afternoon.
Officials say there is some serious damage after two tornadoes ripped through several Minnesota counties overnight. For a time Monday evening, drivers were warned not to go on I-35 or nearby highways because of the risky conditions on flooded roads.
The American Red Cross arrived with volunteers to help around 50 elders that were living in a health care center in Watkins.
Some residents told KARE 11 they could see the tornado coming towards town from their own homes. “It was kind of calm outside and the sirens went off, and the trees started whipping all around and we went inside”, Jacklitch says.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet; I feel worse for my husband because his prized possessions are everywhere”, Diane Kelbing said.
Audrey Schoenberg took shelter at a restaurant after a tornado Monday flipped her home off its foundation.
Law enforcement also reported a tornado touchdown around 6:30 p.m. Monday, 3 miles east of Rockville, in Stearns County, Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service. Flash flooding also left drivers stranded in the St. Cloud area. In a Baxter industrial park, a foot of water covered the roadways.
Flooding remained a threat in east-central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, where the National Weather Service warned up to 10 inches of rain had fallen in some areas.
Benton County crews were still assessing damage Tuesday morning.
One woman suffered minor injuries in the storm, whom Watkins Mayor Frank Eder identified as Dolores Faber. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
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