Written by
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minneapolis City Council has voted to approve and extend a local disaster declaration, which allows the city to use previously restricted money to pay costs associated with tornado damage.
In an update Tuesday afternoon city officials released new numbers on damage in the north Minneapolis neighborhoods where a tornado touched down Sunday afternoon.
City Housing Director Tom Deegan says 40 people have been canvasing the area, tallying the tornado's impact on city housing stock. At this point it appears 15 percent of the homes in zones 1 and 2 have sustained damage: estimates are still being done in zone 3.
FEMA teams are due to arrive in Minneapolis Thursday to work on damage assessments for federal aid.
Minneapolis Public Works and Forestry crews have accomplished their first goal by making sure all streets in the impacted area are passable for emergency responders. The next phase is to clear those roads curb to curb, and then work on clearing alleys.
The status of those roads is a main reason Minneapolis Police have opened up zones 1 and 2, removing all restrictions for people who want to come and go. A similar decision on zone 3 could be made later Tuesday.
Xcel energy reports that of 28 thousand customers who originally left without power in the wake of the tornado, 7 thousand still lack electricity. Those customers should be restored by Wednesday at the latest. 400 Xcel line workers are in the process of replacing 200 power poles snapped off in the storm.
Centerpoint energy crews have fixed more than 100 natural gas leaks since Sunday.
The tornado ripped through the city's north side on Sunday, damaging hundreds of buildings and causing at least $166 million in damage. Two people died in the storm and its aftermath and dozens were hurt.
The declaration and damage numbers are the first step in receiving federal aid.
Council President Barb Johnson called for a moment of silence during the meeting Tuesday to remember those killed by the storm.
City officials say the damage toll from the tornado that devastated parts of Minneapolis is at least $166 million and is likely to rise.
Hundreds of residents were left homeless by Sunday's tornado that caused major damage to more than 600 buildings and left 35 homes uninhabitable. The storm killed one person, and a second man died while helping neighbors clean up. Officials say 48 people were injured.
Gov. Mark Dayton, Mayor R.T. Rybak, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and other officials toured the tornado damage Monday. Dayton said the state will offer the help north Minneapolis needs to recover, including a special legislative session to consider disaster aid.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)