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Klobuchar Meets with Victims of Hugo Tornado Disaster

Surveys damage, meets with local officials and residents

May 27, 2008

Hugo, MN -- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar visited Hugo Monday afternoon to survey damage caused by the May 25 tornado and meet with local officials. She also met with local residents whose homes have been destroyed or damaged.

“In a word, this is devastating,” said Klobuchar.  “It's a disaster of catastrophic proportions for this community.  You see houses that have been leveled, with only debris remaining.  You see a child’s little red wagon that was blown into a faraway ditch. You see the picture of a woman and her dog which was wedged in a fallen roof on the ground.”

Klobuchar added:  “We’ll do everything we can to help this community.  Our hearts go out to all the families, especially the family grieving the death of their little boy."

Klobuchar toured the damaged community with Governor Tim Pawlenty.  She traveled to Hugo immediately following a Memorial Day Ceremony at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, where she spoke in the morning.

Klobuchar spoke with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials earlier in the day and said that FEMA staff was traveling to Hugo this afternoon from the Chicago regional office.  They will work with local and state officials to assess the level of damage and determine what federal aid might be available.

Klobuchar praised the fast, strong response from emergency personnel.

“Again, in the midst of devastation, Minnesotans have shown their best by coming together to help one another,” said Klobuchar.  “It’s the same united spirit we saw with the Ham Lake fire in northern Minnesota, with the floods in southeastern Minnesota and when the I-35W bridge came down.”

Based on last year’s disasters in Minnesota, Klobuchar recommended that victims record and document their losses to ensure that they receive the maximum financial aid to which they are entitled, whether from private insurance or government sources.

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