For now, Wadena asks that you stay away

At least 25 families are without homes following Thursday's tornado that heavily damaged parts of Wadena, city officials report.

Lisa Erickson, who works in marketing and public relations for Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Wadena and is volunteering as a public information officer for the city, said the number of families without homes is only an estimate as city, county and state officials continue to assess the damage in the city.

"There's a lot of people without assistance right now and we're trying to help them as fast as we can," Erickson said. The American Red Cross has been assisting all residents with materials, items and other needs, she said.

Work continued Monday on cleaning up the mess left by the tornado, which was rated by the National Weather Service in Grand Forks as an EF4, the second-strongest rating of tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Erickson said crews are working to open roads and stabilize buildings. Some damaged areas, she said, have not yet been accessed.

How to help Wadena

Those interested in volunteering for cleanup efforts in Wadena at a future date may call 211 to have their name and information placed on a list.

Monetary donations to Wadena residents may be sent to Mid-Central Federal Savings Bank, attention City of Wadena Emergency Disaster Fund, P.O. Box 152, Wadena, MN, 56482.

Donated items can be dropped off at the old Pamida Building on Highway 71 and at Friendly Rider Transit Garage at 124 First St.

While areas of the city have been opened to residents to assess damage or retrieve personal property, Erickson said volunteers from outside the city aren't yet being requested.

"Right now we're working a 'neighbor helping neighbor' program because there's just too much disaster, too much debris around," Erickson said.

However, those interested in volunteering when outside help is needed in Wadena may call 211 to have their name and other information placed on a list. Erickson said when outside volunteers are needed, they will be called and directed where to go in Wadena. Those needing assistance can call Minnesota Volunteers Organized for Assisting with Disasters at (218) 640-3432.

Judy Jacobs, Minnesota Department of Transportation spokeswoman and acting public information officer for Wadena, said 500 people showed up to volunteer Sunday in Wadena. While the sentiment was appreciated volunteers are still being asked to stay out of the city.

Jacobs said a Working on Wadena Day will be held later for volunteers to assist residents.

"Everybody in the world wants to come and help, which is wonderful," Jacobs said. "We appreciate the outpouring of support. It's overwhelming but right now people need to please stay away. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers and when it is safe to come you'll be called. It's a logistics issue and a safety issue."

Updated information on recovery efforts can be found at www.wadena.org.

The tornado, described by the National Weather Service as a multi-vortex tornado with multiple tornadic tubes pivoting around a common center, packed 170 mph winds, traveled 10 miles and was 1.1 miles wide at its peak.

Thirty people were injured - though none critically, Jacobs said - and were treated at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena and released. There also have been 16 injuries related to clean-up, Jacobs said.

The tornado destroyed or damaged 230 homes and numerous other buildings; destroyed the Wadena Community Center, the Wadena-Deer Creek High School, the community swimming pool and the Wadena County Fairgrounds; and sent numerous vehicles and buses flying hundreds of feet through the air.

A Facebook campaign, 10,000 people for ABC's Extreme Makeover to rebuild our school, has been launched in hopes the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" would select Wadena-Deer Creek High School as a rebuilding project for an episode of the show. As of 4:30 p.m. 7,800 people on Facebook noted they liked the idea.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Saturday declared a state of emergency for Wadena County and several other Minnesota counties as a result of the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that occurred on Thursday.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Saturday toured the damage in Wadena and said she would seek federal disaster assistance for the city and other areas of the state hit by tornadoes.

While clean-up and damage assessment continued Monday the National Weather Service in Grand Forks issued a flash flood watch for several western Minnesota counties, including Wadena, as several slow-moving thunderstorm complexes were expected to move through western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota Monday night and Tuesday morning.

The weather service reported rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches were possible, with higher amounts expected in some areas, in a short period of time.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.