Severe storms recently swept through Minneapolis, leaving behind a trail of destruction and nearly 100 incidents of downed wires and toppled trees, triggering widespread power outages, the city's Emergency Management Department reported. Citing a message from the City of Minneapolis official website, residents are informed of the cleanup priorities set by Minneapolis Public Works, including the clearing of roadways for emergency access, ensuring the functionality of the stormwater systems, traffic control systems operations, and repairing signs affected by the storm.
For traffic issues, locals are urged to call 311 or report trouble online if they come across inoperative traffic signals, treating such intersections with caution, like a four-way stop and giving right of way to pedestrians; the same system will handle reports about city concerns but Xcel Energy is the point of contact for power outages—which have impacted roughly 150,000 customers across the Twin Cities area and parts of Wisconsin. The energy company had, by dawn, restored service to 50,000 clients out of the 87,000 affected by the initial wave of storms, with a second onslaught exacerbating situations, city officials and Xcel have implemented a plan for recovery striving to restore service to half the affected customers within the day and the majority by Thursday evening, forecasts that factor in the thoroughness of the damage and the logistical complexity of the task at hand.
Property owners bear the responsibility for managing tree waste on their properties, and can dispose of smaller tree debris through the city's yard waste collection; larger branches, however, will require different means of disposal. Boulevard and park trees under municipal care should be reported to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board at 612-313-7710 for storm-related damages. As the recovery efforts continue, Xcel Energy advises residents to stay clear from downed power lines, heed food safety guidelines, and construct an emergency preparedness kit for future incidents, including items like battery-powered radios, backup phone chargers, and essentials for an extended power outage.
Cooling centers run by The Salvation Army are available for public use across the metro: serving as retreats for those looking to escape the summer heat exacerbated by the current lack of electricity, with diverse locations across the city including spots on Noble Parkway in Brooklyn Park, and several places within Minneapolis and St. Paul. For non-emergency issues related to the storm, residents are reminded to reach out through 311, or email [email protected], and for additional assistance, constituents can contact the Ward 11 office directly.
