One person died as a result of the tornadoes that struck the Albert Lea area on Thursday night.

Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever said the person was from one mile west of Armstrong.

The Tribune has confirmed with relatives that the deceased person is Katherine A. Woodside, 67, of 69509 220th St., one mile west of Armstrong.

Her husband, Ron, was taken to Rochester with injuries. Both are employees at the Albert Lea Tribune’s press facility.

Albert Lea Medical Center spokeswoman Jennifer Levisen said as of 10:30 p.m. Thursday, medical center staff had treated 15 people for injuries sustained from the severe weather. She did not have any specific information about conditions or extent of injuries.

The Minnesota National Guard has been deployed for areas of Freeborn County. Soldiers were seen this morning at road blocks. County Road 46 west of Albert Lea is closed.

The Wadena area in northwest Minnesota also was hit by a tornado-producing thunderstorm on Thursday.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty will come to the Albert Lea area and Wadena area today to tour storm damage.

The time was not announced as of press time, though he is slated to arrive mid-day.

The following is a statement from Gov. Tim Pawlenty regarding the severe storms Thursday across the state of Minnesota:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lost in the severe storms that swept across our state this evening. Our emergency management officials have been working closely with local officials and we stand ready to assist in every way needed. (Friday) we will visit the areas hit hardest by these tornadoes to ensure that the response is swift and comprehensive.”

First District Congressman Tim Walz released the following statement regarding the tornadoes that hit the region last night:

“My deepest sympathy goes to those in the Freeborn County community who lost one resident and to those dealing with the loss of their home or farm. I want to thank our emergency responders who are working quickly to clear roads, assess damage and keep everyone safe. My staff and I will be traveling around southern Minnesota today checking-in with residents and emergency officials. My office stands ready to help in any way we can and to ensure local officials get the help they need to take care of immediate needs today and to make a full recovery. We will all get through this together.”

Walz will be in Albert Lea, Kiester, and Rochester today to see the damage. Kluever said Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies and firefighters were conducting search-and-rescue operations into Thursday night in many areas, with the assistance of the Albert Lea Police Department officers, deputies from Waseca and Mower counties and troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol.

“Law enforcement is all-hands-on-deck right now,” he said late Thursday night.

As of midnight, Kluever noted that law enforcement officers were estimating between 50 and 60 structures had been damaged or destroyed. A structure could be anything ranging from a home to a barn. There have been several hog confinement structures, one feedlot, numerous homes and farm structures damaged.

Utility poles remain down in several locations this morning, which has resulted in many areas without power. There have also been some liquid propane and natural gas leaks that officials were responding to, he said. Some roadways experienced flooding, though this is not widespread.

Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services is working to restore power to its members after a tornado moved through the western portion of their service territory.

As of 9:30 p.m., Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services had about 600 members out of power as both the Alden and Freeborn substations are out of power. Transmission poles are down which creates a dangerous situation.

If anyone sees power lines on the ground they are to assume they are live and stay away, according to the cooperative.

Members out of power are to call (800) 734-6421 or (800) 927-6201.