Severe storms and tornado in Hennepin and Anoka Counties (Minneapolis tornado)
Incident Period
May 21, 2011 to May 22, 2011
Presidential Declaration Date
June 7, 2011 Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation
FEMA ID Number
DR-1990 - Hennepin and Anoka Counties Storms and Tornado
Counties Declared
Anoka, Hennepin Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation
For more information regarding local recovery activity and assistance for this incident please contact the specific county or tribal emergency manager.
County Emergency Manager Contact Information
Disaster-related fatalities
2
Total Cost (eligible)
$5,874,367
The FEMA Public Assistance Program is a 75 percent reimbursement program.
The State of Minnesota is funding 100 percent of the non-federal share for this disaster declaration.
Minnesota State Funding
Omnibus Tax Bill 2011, Article 10, Section 5 - Appropriation for disaster relief
Appropriated $9,000,000 to provide a match for FEMA disaster assistance to state agencies and political subdivisions for disaster recovery work related to the spring 2011 floods (DR-1982), the May 22, 2011, tornadoes in Hennepin and Anoka Counties(DR-1990), and the July 2011 tornadoes (DR-4009). $5,000,000 of the appropriation is reserved for the area of the spring flooding. Any unexpended portion of a 2010 appropriation to the Department of Agriculture for disaster assistance may be transferred to the Commissioner of Public Safety if it is needed to supplement the $9,000,000 appropriation.
Current Status
It is estimated that all applicants will receive their initial payments by April 2012. All costs will be estimates until the final closeout is complete.
Event Summary
On Sunday, May 22, there were 56 reports of tornadoes extending from northeastern Oklahoma, up the Mississippi Valley to northern Wisconsin. The strongest hit was Joplin, Missouri where at least 125 people lost their lives and thousands were displaced from their homes. In Minnesota, there were reports in Fillmore, Hennepin, Anoka, and Washington Counties of tornadoes and property damage.
The National Weather Service estimated the strength of the Hennepin County tornado was a high end EF1 to EF2 with winds between 100 and 125 miles per hour. The majority of the damage came from mature trees being uprooted and falling on houses and vehicles. Tragically, one man lost his life when a tree fell on his vehicle in North Minneapolis and another during the recovery efforts.
