March 30, 1998 - The National Weather Service is trying to catagorize the tornadoes that ripped through southern Minnesota yesterday. University of Minnesota Climatologist Mark Seeley says it's likely the tornadoes were what are called "F-Three," which means winds of 150 to 200 miles per hour: Seeley answers weather questions every Friday morning at 6:50 on Minnesota Public Radio's "Morning Edition." Sun 28-MAY 11:52:12 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 30, 1998 - Governor Carlson traveled to Saint Peter today to survey damaged caused by tornadoes yesterday. The Governor says he hopes to have a request for disaster aid to the federal government and state Legislature within a week. Emergency crews are working to restore power and phone service, and Authorities say it may be Friday before some residents of St. Peter have their electrical power back. Bob Julius is with the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency in Rochester, which serves Saint Peter. He says only the most crucial parts of Saint Peter have had the electricity restored.
March 30, 1998 - Tornadoes caused considerable damage in the communities of Comfry and St. Peter as they skipped east across south central Minnesota last evening. Their last stop on the ground was in Le Center in Le Sueur County. Several businesses and residences in Le Center were badly damaged but residents feel lucky the town escaped with only two minor injuries. Today, residents of Le Center were busy cleaning up and as Minnesota Public Radios Brent Wolfe reports, Hispanic agricultural workers in the town face the biggest loses. SOUND OF TRUCK YANKING A TOPPLED TRAILER OFF ANOTHER TRUCK.
March 30, 1998 -
March 31, 1998 - State legislators lost no time responding to Sunday night's storm damage. A Senate committee has already passed one piece of disaster-relief legislation, and more relief is in the works. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Only sixteen hours after the last twister pulled back into the sky, a Senate committee voted for what amounts to a blank check for the devastated communities. The Senate Government Finance Committee approved what legislators call a "placeholder" -- legislation to dole out an unspecified amount of money to local governments in the stricken counties. For now, senators are guessing the state will have to spend $
March 31, 1998 - Nature photographer Jim Brandenburg created the "Ninety Days Project" to challenge himself, and to reconnect with the wilderness. He will appear tonight at the Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis. His talk and slide show will feature images from the project, which will also be the subject of an upcoming book. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this report: One photograph a day for ninety days. That was the task Jim Brandenburg set himself. The results -- all ninety of them -- will appear in a forthcoming book, titled "Chased by the Light." The images first appeared in National Geographic last November. Brandenburg says professional pho
March 31, 1998 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman provides an on-location report of the tornadoes that destroyed large parts of St. Peter and Comfrey.
March 31, 1998 - MPR’s Mark Steil provides an on-location report detailing the aftermath of tornados that devastated Comfrey, Minnesota.
April 1, 1998 - Southern Minnesota extension officials say Sunday's tornadoes damaged more than 200 farms. Dairy farmers have been especially hard hit. In Brown County dairy farmers are scrambling to care for their cows, which must be milked twice a day. With barns destroyed and electricity out, some are selling their herds. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports: Brown County extension director Wayne Schoper says 140 farms were damaged as the tornado cut a 30 mile long path through the southern part of the county. The storm is causing the most immediate hardship for dairy farmers. If cows are not milked regularly their udders' may get infected, possibly ending their milk producing days for good. Schoper says some farmers h
April 2, 1998 - Nicollet is one of four counties included in President Clinton's disaster declaration. Saint Peter residents now have access to federal money to help repair and rebuild after Sunday's tornado. Governor Arne Carlson also sent a team from the state historical society to help calm fears that the twister robbed the city of it's original charm. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.