Northwestern Minnesota has a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m.

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Several people were injured Monday night when a tornado touched down and caused significant damage north of Detroit Lakes. 

Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander said two people were taken to Essentia St. Mary’s Hospital for non-life threatening injuries, and a third person went to the hospital in a private vehicle.

The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado based on weather spotter sightings.

“At approximately 8:14 p.m., the sheriff’s office received a call saying that a tornado had touched down in the Oakland Beach area of Floyd Lake, causing extensive damage. Deputies and other emergency responders went to the area and confirmed extensive damage to homes, buildings and trees,” Glander said. 

He said responders went from home to home, looking for residents and checking for anyone injured. Glander said the tornado, which downed trees and power lines, is one of the biggest to touch down in Becker County in his career.

“When you drive Oakland Beach and see roofs off of houses and buildings tipped over and honestly people just standing there in awe, not really knowing what had happened, it’s very emotional,” said Glander.

Becker County Emergency Manager Adam Douglas said the National Weather Service is on site surveying the damage and will eventually give an update on the Enhanced Fujita Scale — or EF Scale — rating of wind speeds in the tornado.

Emergency operations have been set up at M State College to assist displaced residents with shelter and other needs. The Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Becker County Public Health, Becker County Human Services, Becker County administration and Becker County Emergency Management are providing assistance.

Glander said late Tuesday morning that 31 residents have been assisted so far at the center.

“This community, they step up, they stick together, we help each other,” he said. 

The public is asked to avoid the Floyd Lake area while first responders and utility crews conduct damage assessments. 

Kari Klingsporn Hitterdal lives on Floyd Lake and is part of the Floyd Shores Lake Association. Her home was not damaged by the storm, but she could see damage as she looked out across the lake Tuesday morning — and she was hearing from family and friends in the area.

“There was great devastation. Lots of loss of trees, there’s boats floating on the water, there’s already crews out on the lake trying to get those boats and other debris removed,” she told MPR’s Morning Edition.

The storms also brought large hail and damaging winds as they tracked across western and central Minnesota Monday night into early Tuesday. 

There were also reports of other possible brief tornado touchdowns near Lake Bronson on Monday afternoon and near Norcross on Monday night.

More than 7,000 homes and businesses remained without power across Minnesota as of early Tuesday. That number had dropped to about 3,000 by late morning.

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Becker County officials say at least three people were injured Monday night when a tornado touched down and caused significant damage north of Detroit Lakes. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado based on weather spotter sightings.

Two people were injured Monday night when a suspected tornado touched down and caused significant damage north of Detroit Lakes.

2 people injured, multiple homes damaged by possible tornado near Detroit Lakes

Downed trees and power lines in the wake of severe storms

Courtesy of Detroit Lakes Public Utilities

Utility crews work to repair power outages

Several people injured, homes damaged by tornado near Detroit Lakes

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