Fall in the City

The weather is on the move

One child killed, eight injured as major storm hits Hugo

by Joshua Freed, Associated Press, Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio May 25, 2008 Hugo, Minn. — (AP) - Severe thunderstorms packing large hail and a possible tornado swept through the small St. Paul suburb of Hugo Sunday evening, killing at least one person and destroying dozens more homes during a devastating tear through the north metro area.

A 2-year-old child was killed and the child's sibling was critically injured and taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Washington County Sheriff Bill Hutton said. The children's parents also were hospitalized with injuries sustained in the family home.

Hugo neighborhoodAt least five others were injured and taken to area hospitals. Some community residents who were out of town for the long holiday weekend will be coming home to a disaster zone.

The two-storm system started in the northwest corner of the metro area, pelting Monticello, Albertville and Maple Lake with baseball-sized hail that shattered windows and car windshields.

Rolling one right after the other, the first storm front carried a tornado through Coon Rapids that sent trees toppling into houses and power lines crashing to the ground.

The second storm dumped more heavy hail and drenching rain on the landscape just minutes behind the first.

The Hugo area appeared to be the hardest hit, with homes wiped out and debris scattered throughout neighborhood. Residents reported a tornado in the area, but the National Weather Service was waiting on damage reports before confirming that.

Hugo Mayor Fran Miron"It certainly looks awfully likely," Meteorologist Todd Krause said. Twenty more residents were initially listed as missing, but most of them were out of town at the time of the storms.

Hugo Mayor Fran Miron estimated about 50 homes were destroyed. Another 300 to 400 homes were evacuated because of safety concerns created by downed power lines and leaky gas lines.

The American Red Cross set up a shelter for displaced families at a local elementary school, but most were able to find friends and family to stay with, spokeswoman Courtney Johnson said.

Hugo's city administrator Mike Ericson said the devastation might have been worse, but that the city put a tornado warning siren in the Creekview Preserve neighborhood when it was developed about eight years ago.

Emergency crews descended on the scene to help the injured and assess the damage and Gov. Tim Pawlenty planned to visit the area on Monday afternoon.

Xcel Energy Company worked to restore power to more than 15,500 customers in the hardest-hit area, primarily in Hugo and Forest Lake to the northeast.

The system was just one of several powerful storms that battered the Midwest, including a tornado that killed seven in northeast Iowa.

Temperatures reached into the 80s during the day and mixed with cooler temperatures higher up in the air to create "an unstable atmosphere," Krause said.

Forecasts called for cooler temperatures and calmer weather on Monday as the cleanup effort gets under way.

Minneapolis Parks - Grand Rounds

A drive around Minneapolis Minnesota on the interconnected segments of parkways and parks known as the Grand Rounds U.S. Scenic Byway

Video begins in northeast Minneapolis near the intersection of I-35W and Industrial Blvd. and covers all of St Anthony, Webber, Victory Memorial, Glenwood, Theodore Wirth, Cedar Lake, Dean, Lake of the Isles, and West Calhoun Parkways. Part II covers West Lake Harriet, Minnehaha, Godfrey, West River and James Rice Parkways.

Notice:
This will take some time. But enjoy!

Running In The Rain

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.

"What?" Mom asked.

"Let 's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain,"

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's' life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith..

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

A friend sent this to me to remind me of life. Hope you enjoy it.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.