11. 7-28-19 Tornado damage report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 8-7-19
To: Mayor, City council
From: Adam Hawkinson, Director of Public Works
Re: 7-28-19 Tornado damage report
Background:
On 7-28-19 an F-1 tornado struck the NW portion of Scandia in the Bone Lake area. The Scandia Fire
Department was first on the scene to assess the damages and needs for services. Two public works
(PW) staff that replied to the PW Directors call for service were dispatched to the site and directed
to follow the direction of the Fire Department as the operations single point of contact (SPOC). The
departments removed trees from roads and secured areas where power lines were down.
The tornado damage was isolated in a narrow path starting at 213th St. N. off Manning Trail, taking a
North Easterly direction to the area of 238th and Morgan before going into Chisago Lake Township.
There was damage to homes, barns, street signs, watercraft, and powerlines. The public Works
Director reported to the mayor first thing in the morning on 7-29-19 that he was receiving calls
from residences requesting assistance for tree clean up. There was a proclamation from the council
that the city would aid in removal of limbs and trees that were brought to the edge of the road for
the City PW staff to haul away.
Due to the large volume of trees and branches needing removal, Washington County Emergency
services and the STS program offered their services. Other local tree services such as Helke’s
stepped forward to provide additional resources for cleanup of the aftermath. The County Public
Works Department graciously opened their brush / tree dump site for the City to haul the city’s tree
waste. The County Public Works also supplied three tandem dump trucks and a skid steer for two
full days to load and haul away debris from the Melanie area. The STS crews were on site all week
including Saturday and Sunday.
Details:
- As 8-6-19, the City has hauled 85 loads to the County site _ 46 - 14 yd. loads by tandem
and 39 -10 yd. loads by single axle dump truck.
- Washington County hauled 50 – 14 yd. tandem loads
- Helke hauled 5 – 32 yd. grapple truck loads
- Total yds.: 1894 plus 90 yds. of woodchips from vendors allowed to dump in the PW site
to help expedite the cleanup efforts.
Notes:
- The City has approximately two days of hauling left. The City’s skid steer broke down on
8-6-19 and was replaced by a loaner from the vendor until the City’s skid is repaired.
- PW has finished the Lofton Ct. area. It has 218th St., Melanie, and Mallard left on the list.
- Helke Co. has three more stops to make due to accessibility to the material. Staff is
hoping it will be completed today.
- There are still some hangers left in the trees that Helke or another tree service will need
to remove shortly.