Minnesota council to extend emergency for tornadoes

Published 10:44 am Friday, May 27, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — A state panel is expected to extend an emergency declaration after a deadly tornado hit north Minneapolis and several suburbs.

The state Executive Council meets Friday to continue the emergency declared earlier this week by Gov. Mark Dayton. The council includes Dayton and the rest of the state’s constitutional officers.

Dayton has the power to declare an emergency for up to five days. The council can extend that for up to 30 days.

Email newsletter signup

Dayton is also expected to ask President Barack Obama for federal aid when federal and state officials finish assessing the damage.

The tornado ripped through north Minneapolis on Sunday, killing two and injuring dozens. More than 100 homes were left uninhabitable and nearly 2,000 were damaged. The funnel followed a path from Golden Valley to Blaine.