'Exclusion Zones' Established in N. Mpls. After Storm Kills 1, Injures 33

A tornado that ripped through North Minneapolis left one person dead, and 33 injured.

According to North Memorial Medical Center, 31 patients who were seen at the Emergency Department were released Sunday night.

Two patients were admitted to receive further care, although their injuries are not serious.

Minneapolis Police confirm one man was killed when debris hit his minivan near Fremont Ave. and 36th Street. 

City crews are hard at work assessing the damage in North Minneapolis one day after a tornado left homes without roofs, knocked down trees, and scattered debris.

A curfew was put in place and extra patrols were out on the streets of Minneapolis Sunday night as officials tried to assess the damage left behind by a tornado that damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes on the city's north side.

The Minneapolis Police Department says an exclusion zone has been established in the areas hardest hit by Sunday's storms. The city says residents in those areas will only be allowed to return once they are considered safe.

The Minneapolis Police Department has set up several checkpoints throughout the North Minneapolis neighborhood to help organize crews and assist residents impacted by the storms.

Crews Monday morning are working to repair gas leaks, clear roads and locate and neutralize downed power lines.  Police say the work of the entire city in North Minneapolis will continue throughout the day until it is complete.

It is the first tornado to hit the city of Minneapolis since August of 2009.

The tornado appears to have touched down around 2:16 p.m. near Theodore Wirth Parkway and cut a 3.5 mile path northeast to the Mississippi River. It is believed to have been on the ground for approximately six minutes.

The storm also uprooted as many as 50 natural gas lines in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park. Xcel Energy says more than 20,000 customers lost power in the metro area at the height of the storm.

“Our number one concern is for the health and safety of our residents,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak. “Emergency responders have been working hard on the scene, going door to door to check on the well-being of folks in this area.”

Mayor Rybak declared a Local Emergency and opened the Minneapolis Emergency Operation Center after he and the Council President surveyed the damage from the air Sunday. He says while they don't have a full assessment of the damage yet, he says it is clear the damage is major and widespread.

At the State Capitol, lawmakers took time out from their work Sunday night to observe a moment of silence for tornado victims.

A shelter has been set up for those victims at the Northeast Armory on Broadway St. NE.  Rybak and Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon planned to visit the shelter Sunday evening.

Seven Minneapolis schools will be closed Monday due to the tornado. They are Lucy Laney, Cityview Community, Nellie Stone Johnson, Hmong International Academy, Northstar, Plymouth Youth Center and Sojourner Truth Academy.

City building inspectors worked through the night Sunday assessing the damage. City Public Works crews will work with Hennepin County  and Minneapolis Park and Recreation crews to clear debris from the north side of Minneapolis.

Governor Dayton, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mayor Rybak plan to tour the damage areas Monday morning.

Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates.

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