Uh Oh, Fridley: This is Coldest Spring Since Tornado Years of 1965 and 1987
See video clips of 1986 tornado and 1965 damage here.
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Tuesday, May 22, 2012
2011 Tornado's Impact on Commercial Buildings in Fridley Mostly History
A rebuilt structure at BAE Systems was the most expensive repair.
How badly did the May 22, 2011 tornado hit Fridley's commercial buildings? Ron Julkowski, City of Fridley commercial building official, said 90 percent of repairs have been completed, though the city is waiting on insurance claims adjusters to make a final determination on pricing and damages for the remaining jobs. “It was mainly roofs and very minor constructional stuff,” Julkowski said. “An overhanging roof, a tree limb through the rafters, that’s mainly been the extent in Fridley. It was wind and blown down trees, basically.” Julkowski said the City of Minneapolis waterworks, located on East River Road in far southwest Fridley, suffered roof brick damage from flying debris. Many industrial buildings along Main Street NE saw damage too…
Tornado Photos from Golden Valley: Then and Now
What the hardest-hit areas of Golden Valley look like one year after the May 22, 2011 tornado.
May 22 marks the one-year anniversary of a tornado that swept through several cities, including St. Louis Park, Minneapolis, Fridley and Golden Valley. Golden Valley Patch revisited the damaged areas in Golden Valley and compiled a photo gallery to look at the improvements made in one year. Upload your photos or leave a comment about what you recall from that day last year.
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Then and Now: St. Louis Park Patch Looks at Last Year's Tornado in Photos
The May 22, 2011 twister that hit Fridley started its day's work in St. Louis Park.
One year ago Tuesday, a tornado touched down in St. Louis Park near the intersection of highways 394 and 100, eventually moving north into Golden Valley, Fridley and Minneapolis. St. Louis Park was spared the worst of the twister, as the storm intensified as it moved into Minneapolis, causing widespread damage in North Minneapolis. Still, there was damage in the Park. Power was knocked out at the Sabes Jewish Community Center. The Nestle Healthcare Nutrition facility sprung a gas leak and sustained roof damage. And the Cedar Trails Condominiums in the 4500 block of Cedar Lake Road took the brunt of the storm in SLP, as a number of units were hit by fallen trees and other debris. This included the residence of Victor Valdez, who was inside …
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$125,000: What the May 22, 2011 Tornado Cost the City of Fridley
Feds reimbursed 75 percent, state 25 percent; insurance paid nearly $10K.
It took the May 22, 2011 tornado less than an hour to wreak havoc enough to wrack up $125,000 in expenses for the City of Fridley. Then it took almost a year for the federal and state governments to reimburse Fridley for those costs. But now they have, almost. Fridley Finance Director Darin Nelson said by email Monday that only last week did reimbursements covering most of the public-infrastructure damage from last spring's tornado arrive from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The FEMA aid became available after President Obama included Fridley in his declaration of a federal disaster on June 7, 2011. (See a timeline of milestones along the way to the disaster declaration, …
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Monday, May 21, 2012
WATCH: Weather Radar Images of the May 22, 2011, Tornado Hitting Fridley
Fridley was in the storm's crosshairs for a while, the radar record shows.
The National Weather Service has put together a page of images and information about the tornado that struck Fridley on May 22, 2011. Here is one of the features, showing a radar loop of the thunderstorm that moved across Minneapolis. The loop begins at 2:00 PM CDT on May 22nd, and ends at 3:00 PM CDT. Other posts to check out:
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YOUR MEMORIES AND PHOTOS: The May 22, 2011, Tornado
The twister tore through Minneapolis and Fridley, as well as St. Louis Park and Golden Valley.
What are your memories from the May 22, 2011, tornado that swept through the Twin Cities? Upload a photo or video above, and leave a comment below. Also, tell us where you were when the twister hit by clicking the "Add" button in the top, right corner of the interactive map and fill out the fields that pop up, including details on your experience during the tornado.
WATCH: The Twin Cities May 22, 2011, Tornado in 3D Radar Images
National Weather Service radar images show tornado as a column of red.
Here is a looping 3D radar image of the May 22, 2011, tornado that hit Minneapolis as well as Fridley, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park and other suburbs. The National Weather Service has this description: A 3D look at the Minneapolis tornado from the Chanhassen radar. The "column of red" is a descending core of air moving away from the radar that can sometimes be seen when stronger tornadic storms are close to a radar (greens represent air moving toward and reds away from the radar). The first image where a column appears is when the storm was near I-394 and MN-100 (fourth image in loop), which is where the tornado touched down. This feature began to fall apart as it moved into Anoka county. This coincides with the tornado weakening as …
Sunday, April 15, 2012
UPDATED: Fridley No Longer under Tornado Watch
Keep an eye on MN skies, experts advise. Here are readiness tips.
Update (9 p.m. Sunday): As of 8:26 p.m., Fridley is no longer under a tornado watch. The National Weather Service has cancelled the watch for Anoka County. Update (7:30 p.m. Sunday): For many counties in Minnesota, the National Weather Service has cancelled the tornado watch. However, it remains in effect for Anoka and nine other counties. Original post (4 p.m. Sunday): Fridley is under a tornado watch that is in effect until 11 p.m. Sunday. Despite predictions of thunderstorms, hail and snow, the weekend's weather as of late Sunday afternoon has been moist but relatively calm. A storm system so far centered in states south of Minnesota has spawned nearly 100 tornadoes and is blamed in five deaths. The National Weather Service announced …
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Capitol Review
Fridley Reps Introduce Bills on Marriage Amendment, Mortgage Value Homestead Tax Credit
Also of interest in House: tornado tax relief, bicycle lights, foreclosure tenants.
The three state representatives whose districts include parts of Fridley have so far signed on a cosponsors of two bills: one to repeal the marriage amendment, the other to restore the Mortgage Value Homestead Credit. Repealing Marriage Amendment Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL-50A), who represents western and southern Fridley, and Rep. Kate Knuth (DFL-50B), who represents Fridley's southeastern corner, are co-authors with 15 others of a bill to repeal the marriage amendment passed last year. The amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is currently set to appear on ballots throughout the state in November. It would define marriage as between one man and one woman. Restoring Mortgage Value Homestead Credit All three of Fridley's representatives—…
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Jeff Thompson
7:48 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Headlamps for bikes? It is already required to have a headlamp and a rear red tail lamp Riding bike in the dark is considered dangerous and not recommended and free headlamps would only de give false security to those who think headlamps makes all well. Educating bikers on road safety begins when the training wheels come off. Repeal a law one year after? Is the vote of the people not enough? … more ›
Lisa Furgison
10:10 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Karla Rose shared this memory on the Golden Valley Patch Facebook page. Karla wrote: "I remember being at an open house and cowering in the well room trying to track the tornados on my iPad when I heard a knock at the door and a couple asked if they could come in and take a look at the house. Apparently the tornado sirens and green skies didn't catch their attention as much as my cute house." more ›