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Fridley Tornado, 1965
On the night of May 6, 1965, two F4 tornadoes cut through the northwest Twin Cities metro area. Known collectively as the Fridley tornado, these twisters were the worst cyclonic disaster to hit the Twin Cities to date.
On the evening of May 6, 1965, Twin Cities residents knew that there was going to be a storm. They just didn’t know how devastating it would turn out to be. When Fridley residents saw the sky turning dark green and spotted baseball-sized hail raining down around 7:00 pm, they called their kids inside. Eyewitness accounts describe the air smelling of sulfur. Many who were children at the time later remembered putting large pieces of hail in their refrigerators.
At 7:06 pm, the first tornado touched down in southwestern Fridley. Over the next fifteen minutes, it cut a 6.8-mile path to the northeast and dissipated in Blaine. This tornado was an F4 classification—the second-most powerful category of storm on the Fujita scale. The most common shared experience that people later remembered was hearing the deafening, train-like noise that accompanied the tornadoes.
By the end of the storm, there were three fatalities and 175 injuries. People emerged from their destroyed homes and helped others who were trapped in rubble or injured. However, they did not have much time to do so before a second tornado appeared.
This second tornado touched down in Golden Valley at 8:14 pm. It travelled for 17.3 miles from there through Fridley and Mounds View before dissipating west of Centerville at 9:02 pm. The second tornado was also an F4 storm; this time, there were six fatalities and 158 injuries. Although many homes were mostly destroyed, that night people gathered together with their neighbors and slept in basements and cars that were still intact.
In total, the damage caused by the two tornadoes that passed through Fridley was $14.5 million dollars. Approximately 1,100 homes and businesses were damaged. 425 were destroyed. Most of Hayes Elementary School (later renamed Fridley Elementary School) and Fridley Junior High was destroyed; students finished the three weeks remaining in the school year in Northfield. World War II veterans likened the state of their town to that of an artillery-shelled battlefield. The unidentified driver of a white van, masquerading as a Red Cross volunteer, rode around and stole appliances. The looting was stopped when the National Guard was stationed in Fridley on May 7.
The next weeks saw the community come together to clean up damaged properties and house and feed people. The sight and sound of chainsaws cutting up fallen trees were common during the summer that followed.
Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale, and Minnesota Governor Karl Rolvaag came to Fridley soon after the disaster. Local residents appreciated Rolvaag's visit, but some criticized Humphrey and Mondale for their relatively late arrival. Humphrey and Mondale, they contended, had come to town only to take pictures and present themselves favorably for the news. One Fridleyite later referred to the two politicians as “the vultures” for failing to do enough to help people impacted by the storm. This was in stark contrast to reaction to Governor Rolvaag and the Canadian volunteer workers, who helped clean up the destruction. As much as the tornadoes caused destruction, they also inspired a strong sense of community among local residents.

Bibliography
Hughes, Gordon, Ronald Hughes, and R. C. Jefferson. Minnetonka Tornado Story. Excelsior, MN: Tonka Print Company, 1965.
Johnson, Laurie Richardson. A Neighborhood Remembers...The 1965 Fridley Tornado: A Collection of Stories and Memories from Rice Creek Terrace: 30th Anniversary Reunion, May 6, 1995, Fridley, Minnesota. Fridley, MN: L. R. Johnson, 1995.
National Weather Service. Summary of May 6, 1965, Twin Cities Tornadoes.
https://www.weather.gov/mpx/19650506_Twin_Cities_Tornadoes
Taylor, Allen. The Night the Sirens Blew: A Historical Account of the May 6, 1965 Twin Cities Tornadoes. Coon Rapids, MN: Tornado Press, 2008.
——— . Hidden Revealed: A Sequel Account of the May 6, 1965 Tornado Outbreak. Coon Rapids, MN: Allen Taylor, 2013.
Related Resources
Primary
Cunningham, Dick. "Tornadoes Kill 10 in Area." Minneapolis Tribune, May 7, 1965.
——— . "Tornado Toll: 13 Dead, 19 Missing, 400 Hurt." Minneapolis Tribune, May 8, 1965.
"Fridley: Night of Terror; Houses Destroyed, Hundreds Hurt." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
"Rolvaag Sees Storm Area as Disaster." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
Schaefer, Edward. "13 Die as Six Tornadoes Hit Area." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
Steele, Richard. "Looters, Sight-Seers Harass Tornado Cleanup Work." Minneapolis Tribune, May 9, 1965.
Thompson, Dave. "He 'Lay in Ditch and Prayed.' Saw His Trailer Tossed in Air." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
Web
“1965 Twin Cities Tornado Outbreak (WCCO AM 830 Coverage) Pt. 1.” YouTube video, 1:41:57. Posted by “mindlessgonzoALT,” February 25, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z37FK8l1lOY
“1965 Twin Cities Tornado Outbreak (WCCO AM 830 Coverage) Pt. 2.” YouTube video, 1:29:45. Posted by “mindlessgonzoALT,” February 26, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUW3r5BlVrU
“1965 Twin Cities Tornado Outbreak (WCCO AM 830 Coverage) Pt. 3 (Final).” YouTube video, 1:46:35. Posted by “mindlessgonzoALT,” February 27, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-oXthHqDLk
“Fridley 1965 May 7th Tornado aftermath.” YouTube video, 14:48. Posted by “Andy,” December 18, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA9x0-djLzE&t=5s&index=87&list=WL
“Fridley Tornado, May 6, 1965.” YouTube video, 3:17. Posted by “Dan Melander,” March 14, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg3lPnHYNM0&t=1s&index=88&list=WL
“Fridley Tornado May 6, 1965” YouTube video, 1:50. Posted by “errrk,” May 12, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWA3hf9jxU
“May 6, 1965 MSP Radar Loop - Full Length Version.” YouTube video, 0:55. Posted by “NWSTwinCities,” May 7, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83aFBj3Qdvs&t=0s&index=86&list=WL
“Tornado terror 50 years ago remembered.” YouTube video, 2:05. Posted by “CCX Media,” May 6, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlR2K6SbcDk
“Vintage video of the 1965 Fridley, MN, Tornado Damage!” YouTube video, 3:08. Posted by “MisterPersuasion,” September 15, 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EagEra6-2e8&t=5s&index=85&list=WL
Related Images

Aerial view of Fridley tornado damage
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Charles and Carol Ann Hutfles after the Fridley tornado
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Front page of the Minneapolis Tribune, May 7, 1965
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Gerald Eich at 7324 Oakley Street, Fridley
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Car damaged by Fridley tornado
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Demolition volunteers after Fridley tornado
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Aid drive for Fridley tornado victims
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Twin Drive-In Theater after the Fridley tornado
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Aerial view of the Midland Co-operative after the Fridley tornado
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Minnesota Governor Karl Rolvaag flying over Fridley tornado wreckage
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Related Articles
Turning Point
On May 6, 1965, at 7:06 pm, a tornado touches down in southwestern Fridley.
Chronology
May 6, 1965
May 6, 1965
May 6, 1965
May 7, 1965
May 9, 1965
Bibliography
Hughes, Gordon, Ronald Hughes, and R. C. Jefferson. Minnetonka Tornado Story. Excelsior, MN: Tonka Print Company, 1965.
Johnson, Laurie Richardson. A Neighborhood Remembers...The 1965 Fridley Tornado: A Collection of Stories and Memories from Rice Creek Terrace: 30th Anniversary Reunion, May 6, 1995, Fridley, Minnesota. Fridley, MN: L. R. Johnson, 1995.
National Weather Service. Summary of May 6, 1965, Twin Cities Tornadoes.
https://www.weather.gov/mpx/19650506_Twin_Cities_Tornadoes
Taylor, Allen. The Night the Sirens Blew: A Historical Account of the May 6, 1965 Twin Cities Tornadoes. Coon Rapids, MN: Tornado Press, 2008.
——— . Hidden Revealed: A Sequel Account of the May 6, 1965 Tornado Outbreak. Coon Rapids, MN: Allen Taylor, 2013.
Related Resources
Primary
Cunningham, Dick. "Tornadoes Kill 10 in Area." Minneapolis Tribune, May 7, 1965.
——— . "Tornado Toll: 13 Dead, 19 Missing, 400 Hurt." Minneapolis Tribune, May 8, 1965.
"Fridley: Night of Terror; Houses Destroyed, Hundreds Hurt." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
"Rolvaag Sees Storm Area as Disaster." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
Schaefer, Edward. "13 Die as Six Tornadoes Hit Area." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
Steele, Richard. "Looters, Sight-Seers Harass Tornado Cleanup Work." Minneapolis Tribune, May 9, 1965.
Thompson, Dave. "He 'Lay in Ditch and Prayed.' Saw His Trailer Tossed in Air." Minneapolis Star, May 7, 1965.
Web
“1965 Twin Cities Tornado Outbreak (WCCO AM 830 Coverage) Pt. 1.” YouTube video, 1:41:57. Posted by “mindlessgonzoALT,” February 25, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z37FK8l1lOY
“1965 Twin Cities Tornado Outbreak (WCCO AM 830 Coverage) Pt. 2.” YouTube video, 1:29:45. Posted by “mindlessgonzoALT,” February 26, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUW3r5BlVrU
“1965 Twin Cities Tornado Outbreak (WCCO AM 830 Coverage) Pt. 3 (Final).” YouTube video, 1:46:35. Posted by “mindlessgonzoALT,” February 27, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-oXthHqDLk
“Fridley 1965 May 7th Tornado aftermath.” YouTube video, 14:48. Posted by “Andy,” December 18, 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA9x0-djLzE&t=5s&index=87&list=WL
“Fridley Tornado, May 6, 1965.” YouTube video, 3:17. Posted by “Dan Melander,” March 14, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg3lPnHYNM0&t=1s&index=88&list=WL
“Fridley Tornado May 6, 1965” YouTube video, 1:50. Posted by “errrk,” May 12, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWA3hf9jxU
“May 6, 1965 MSP Radar Loop - Full Length Version.” YouTube video, 0:55. Posted by “NWSTwinCities,” May 7, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83aFBj3Qdvs&t=0s&index=86&list=WL
“Tornado terror 50 years ago remembered.” YouTube video, 2:05. Posted by “CCX Media,” May 6, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlR2K6SbcDk
“Vintage video of the 1965 Fridley, MN, Tornado Damage!” YouTube video, 3:08. Posted by “MisterPersuasion,” September 15, 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EagEra6-2e8&t=5s&index=85&list=WL