May 27, 2008 3:01 pm US/Central
Homeowners Sift Through What's Left In Hugo
HUGO, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Sky4 captured this aerial shot of Hugo, Minn. after a tornado hit the community Sunday.
CBS
Tuesday was the first full day homeowners were allowed back into the zone devastated by Sunday's tornado. Residents were only allowed a few hours Monday to survey the damage and retrieve what items they could.
The National Weather Service said the storm packed winds up to 165 miles an hour.
One homeowner said his house was brand new when he moved in seven years ago. Now, there is a red check mark spray painted on the door, marking it as unsafe. The family will have to wait for a structural engineer to assess the damage and tell them what parts of the house they can retrieve belongings from.
Other homes are "green tagged," meaning homeowners can move back in permanently.
City officials are working to make sure everyone who enters the neighborhood is credentialed. That includes contractors, insurance adjusters and even the media. Security is a priority as people clean up the disaster site.
Mayor Fran Miron encouraged homeowners to document losses, take pictures, and keep logs of what was lost.
"As I walked through that area yesterday with the governor and the two senators, you picked up pictures, you picked up a toy, this is parts of people's lives and their families and you realize the impact as you walk through and you see that destruction," said Miron.
The Mayor and City Council members plan to hold community meetings each night this week at Onika Elementary School to keep people up to date on the cleanup efforts.
The Salvation Army is in Hugo providing relief and food. The Red Cross has a stable spot for people to eat at the American Legion.
A large cleanup effort is planned for Saturday, May 31. Volunteers are invited to the Washington County Service Center at 8 a.m. Directions can be found on the
City of Hugo website.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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