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Redwood Falls, Minn. —
At first, the storm Friday was listed as having winds in the 80 mile per hour range.
Gary Schmidt of rural Vesta knew better, and he had the data to back it up. On top of a 91-foot tall elevator on his farm, a wind meter registered a wind speed of 116 mph.
“At that height the wind is unobstructed,” he said, adding the measurement the meter records is the highest during any event. Schmidt said that is the highest reading his meter has ever recorded.
After those initial reports came in the National Weather Service sent a crew out to the area, and a report release Tuesday confirms what most already believed.
There was an EF-1 tornado that hit areas north of Milroy and in the communities of Echo, Belview, Vesta and Delhi.
In Milroy, Betsy Snyder said the majority of the damage was to trees, but heading south of town she said the farm where she lives has no grove left.
Pete Valentin of Meadowland Farmers Cooperative, said insurance adjusters had to come to look at the elevator sites in Delhi and Vesta, but they already knew operations at those sites is going to be on hold for some time.
“Once we get a better idea after the inspection we will know what our next steps will be,” he said.
Jean Gladitsch, Vesta city clerk, said there were so many trees down in the community, they had to put up piles in the city park and when that was full brush was being hauled to a gravel pit outside of town.
“We still have a lot to go,” Gladitsch said Tuesday, adding the storm really brought people together.
In Echo there was also significant tree damage, as well as damage to the elevator, which is no longer operational as is.
Lori Ryer, Belview city clerk, said there were so many power lines and trees down in the community it had to shut down the community to people coming in. She added the nursing home also had to evacuate its residents.
Power went out in many towns and on most rural farm sites during the storm, with some power returned within an hour and a half and other places just getting power back Tuesday morning.
“The volunteers have been great,” said Ryer. “It is so touching to see people working together. I am proud of the way the people in the community have been taking care of each other.”
While the storm moved on, the work in the communities re-mains, and most city leaders know that work is going to continue for several months.
At first, the storm Friday was listed as having winds in the 80 mile per hour range.
Gary Schmidt of rural Vesta knew better, and he had the data to back it up. On top of a 91-foot tall elevator on his farm, a wind meter registered a wind speed of 116 mph.
“At that height the wind is unobstructed,” he said, adding the measurement the meter records is the highest during any event. Schmidt said that is the highest reading his meter has ever recorded.
After those initial reports came in the National Weather Service sent a crew out to the area, and a report release Tuesday confirms what most already believed.
There was an EF-1 tornado that hit areas north of Milroy and in the communities of Echo, Belview, Vesta and Delhi.
In Milroy, Betsy Snyder said the majority of the damage was to trees, but heading south of town she said the farm where she lives has no grove left.
Pete Valentin of Meadowland Farmers Cooperative, said insurance adjusters had to come to look at the elevator sites in Delhi and Vesta, but they already knew operations at those sites is going to be on hold for some time.
“Once we get a better idea after the inspection we will know what our next steps will be,” he said.
Jean Gladitsch, Vesta city clerk, said there were so many trees down in the community, they had to put up piles in the city park and when that was full brush was being hauled to a gravel pit outside of town.
“We still have a lot to go,” Gladitsch said Tuesday, adding the storm really brought people together.
In Echo there was also significant tree damage, as well as damage to the elevator, which is no longer operational as is.
Lori Ryer, Belview city clerk, said there were so many power lines and trees down in the community it had to shut down the community to people coming in. She added the nursing home also had to evacuate its residents.
Power went out in many towns and on most rural farm sites during the storm, with some power returned within an hour and a half and other places just getting power back Tuesday morning.
“The volunteers have been great,” said Ryer. “It is so touching to see people working together. I am proud of the way the people in the community have been taking care of each other.”
While the storm moved on, the work in the communities re-mains, and most city leaders know that work is going to continue for several months.
