Anoka, MN Tornado, June 1939

More Photos of the Anoka Tornado

Anoka Tornado Takes Nine Lives; 250 Homes Ruined.

200 Are Injured; State Sends Aid to Stricken Area

Gov. Stassen Makes Personal Survey of Tornado-devastated Area Pledging Full resources of State Will Be Made Available in Emergency

ANOKA, Minn. -- (UP) – Under the personal direction of Gov. HAROLD E. STASSEN, this Mississippi river town of 5,000 to-day began the task of rehabilitation in the wake of a roaring tornado which had claimed at least nine lives.

STASSEN came here within a few hours after the storm struck, and took full charge of caring for the injured and homeless, clearing the debris from the streets, and beginning the work of rebuilding. Early today he reported:
“The situation is now under control.” He said all resources of the state would be made available in the emergency.

Authorities said the storm injured more than 200, perhaps a score seriously, and estimated property loss at about $500,000.

Three hundred national guardsmen, under direction of Adjutant-General ELLARD A. WALSH, patrolled the streets. The town was, in effect under martial law. A drastic 9 p. m. curfew kept the streets cleared during the night.

Early resumption of normal water, electric and telephone services was promised. Utility companies kept large crews of men at work throughout the night.

FIVE MINUTES DEVASTATING FURY

The tornado struck with sudden fury at 3:28 p. m. yesterday. Moving from the southwest to northeast, the towering, black, funnel-shaped cloud first struck near Corcoran, a small village a few miles southwest of Anoka. It hit a car in which four Minneapolis persons were riding, tossed it 200 yards into a field, killing several of the occupants. It dipped again at Champlin, killed one man, wrecked several buildings and swept on to Anoka where it cut a swath two to five blocks wide diagonally through the town. At least 50 square blocks felt the force of the storm. Five persons were killed.

With lessened force, the twister struck at Cedar, a few miles to the northeast, before dissolving. A farmer living near Cedar was plucked from his barnyard a dashed to death half a mile away.

250 ANOKA HOMES DESTROYED

In little more than five minutes the Tornado had run its course – but it left behind, in the heavy rain which followed, a scene of terrible confusion.

In Anoka, the armory, two churches, the Masonic temple, several business buildings and about 250 homes were destroyed or partially wrecked. Electric and telephone lines were a tangle of broken wires....

It was difficult to estimate the number of homeless. Many houses in the path of the twister were not completely wrecked and could be occupied.

STASSEN promised that money would be taken from state relief funds to care for those left homeless pending rehabilitation. The Red Cross was providing warm fool and sleeping room for many.

Continued