Emergency management crews to wrap up tornado cleanup work in Taopi

Emergency crews planned to wrap up restoration operations Wednesday following a damaging EF2 tornado that tore through the Minnesota town of Taopi last week.

Hubbard Broadcasting affiliate KAAL-TV reports neighborhood emergency management teams have been on-site, offering resources to the community.

KAAL reports most public utilities had been restored to homes and businesses by Wednesday. Crew members continued working on clearing debris from the storm.

“It was a huge relief to see the debris leaving, it’s a huge relief when the first dumpster left,” Amy Lammey, Mower County’s emergency manager, told KAAL. “It will be an even bigger relief when the last dumpster leaves, but it’s been a great response from all of our agencies, the local people. I mean, you can’t be in southern Minnesota and not have the locals come and help and use the resources that they have.”

The total cost of the damage has yet to be calculated, but it’s expected that it will meet the threshold for public assistance, KAAL reports.