City, Residents Clean Up After Storm in Eden Prairie

Tuesday's night hail in Eden Prairie was some of the biggest in the metro area, the National Weather Service confirmed.

Several trained storm spotters reported hail 2 inches or greater in Minnesota. In Eden Prairie, there was one report of 2-inch hail at Bryant Park (Highway 212 and Crosstown) and a couple reports of 1.75 inch hail near Highway 212 and I-494. Two-inch hail was also reported in Edina, and the two cities saw the biggest hail in the metro area.  

Three-inch hail was reported in Kandiyohi County. (Visit the National Weather Service for a complete storm report and hail measurements.)

The National Weather Service has categorized the storm as a supercell thunderstorm, which is a very strong storm that has a rotating updraft, producing large hail and damaging winds. The storm caused extensive damage to crops and vehicles throughout the state.  

During the storm before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, hail came down so large that it broke an Eden Prairie Police squad car window. However, there were not many more problems to deal with for the city.

"There has been very little damage on city property," said Katie Bengtson, senior communications coordinator for the city. And because damage to private property isn’t reported, they were not able provide a comprehensive report of storm damage.

Xcel Energy reported thousands of outages in the area Tuesday night, including a cluster of 2,092 homes in Eden Prairie. 

"The storms last night dropped a tree on Fred's Bread power line," Fred Mische, owner of Fred's Bread, posted on Facebook early Wednesday morning. "We have NO POWER to bake yummy things for you so we are closed until I repost. I am so sorry folks!"

As of Wednesday at 11 a.m., only a few homes in Eden Prairie were left without power, according to Xcel.

The storms came at a bad time for the 150 neighborhoods in Eden Prairie celebrating the Night to Unite with block parties. However, some neighborhoods kept partying right through the hail.

"Storms don't slow us down, our neighborhood is full of well seasoned block partiers! We had our party before, during and after the storms," Taiha VanCleave Wagner wrote on the Eden Prairie Facebook page.

To report non-emergency storm damage on Eden Prairie city streets, sidewalks, trails or in parks, use the EP SEE CLICK FIX app on your mobile device or make a report online.

Police Department Issues Alert on Storm Repair Solicitors
As many in the community begin the process of making repairs and removing storm debris, Eden Prairie Police would like to remind all residents of the following safety tips related to solicitors:

• Solicitors and peddlers are required to apply for and carry a permit from the Eden Prairie Police Department – you have the right to ask to see a contractor’s permit at any time, or call the Police Department to verify it.
• Regardless of any solicitor’s permit status with the City, it is always best to contact your homeowner’s insurance company prior to the use of any contractor.
• Contractors conducting work on private property are also required to be licensed with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Verify any contractor’s licensure here.
• If a person arrives at your door claiming to be representing a business, ask to see their credentials or look up the phone number yourself and call the company to verify – do not allow access to your home or make a payment of any kind until you are able to verify the person is a legitimate employee of the company they claim to represent.
• Immediately report suspicious activity to Police by calling 911.

Have a photo of the storm/hail to share? Email becky.glander@patch.com.

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