'It Was Like a Movie or Something'

UPDATED 9:05 P.M. — At least one person died and 29 others were injured—two critically—from a Sunday afternoon tornado that ripped through Golden Valley and North Minneapolis. About 16,000 people are still without power.

Trees fell through homes and blocked many residential roads. Golden Valley and Minneapolis firefighters climbed over trees to make their way from home to home, door to door, to account for residents and help evacuate people.

Many in Golden Valley reported reacting to the oncoming storm before the city's tornado sirens sounded. The first storms hit St. Louis Park around 2:10 p.m. and, according to meteorologists with Fox9 News, split into two around 10 minutes later, forking into Golden Valley and North Minneapolis.

Doris McNeal and her husband felt the impact of the tornado before they managed to hide in a closet of their Golden Valley Road apartment.

“You could see the roof flying through the air past our window," she said. "I could not believe the things that were flying by. It was like a movie or something.”

Amanda Furth and a friend were watching a movie inside her home on North Thomas Avenue when the storm hit, forcing them to make a break for it before the sirens ever sounded.

“As we ran to the basement, we could see trees coming for my house," she said. We had just seconds to react.”

Craig Miller responded to his mother's phone call to find the roof of her North Upton Avenue home completely taken off and the windows and back door to her kitchen blown in.

“I don’t know how they weren’t hurt,” he said of his parents.

Pat Kelly fled to the basement of his home at Washburn and 17th Street.

"I saw debris flying in a big circle above and that’s when I ran to the basement," he said. "I was downstairs for just a couple minutes, but it felt like forever.”

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner confirmed one death related to the tornado. KSTP-TV reported the person died near 37th and Fremont Avenues N. when a tree fell on top of his minivan. Of the 29 people injured and taken to area hospitals, county officials described two as in critical condition, with 12 others suffering "moderate" injuries and 15 with minor injuries.  

The Twin Cities chapter of the American Red Cross has partnered with the City of Minneapolis to open an evacuation center and shelter at the Northeast Minneapolis National Guard Armory, 1025 Broadway Street NE, near Central Avenue. Call (651) 268-8537.

Clouds of flying debris were seen Sunday afternoon near the intersection of Minnesota Highway 100 and Interstate 394. Golden Valley Patch documented severe damage along North Upton and North Thomas avenues, just south of Golden Valley Road (see photos). Downed electrical lines draped across some city streets, and crews on the scene couldn't speculate on when power would be restored. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that diners at the Good Day Cafe, in Golden Valley, were moved into the kitchen area for shelter.

Clarion Holloway, who owns Holloway Tree Service, had to saw through and clear away two downed trees blocking his front driveway and another across his backyard just to free himself to help others. 

"You can't drive 20 feet in any direction on any of these roads because there's a tree blocking the way," Holloway said. "I've never seen anything this bad."

The City of Minneapolis has instituted a curfew from 9 p.m. Sunday to to 6 a.m. Monday within the following boundaries: Penn Avenue to Interstate 94 and from Dowling Avenue to Plymouth Avenue. Minneapolis Police have extra patrols in this area.

Golden Valley Patch will post further updates as they're available.