FRIDLEY, Minn. -- Fifty years ago this week, the area experienced what is considered the worst tornado outbreak in Twin Cities history.
On May 6th, 1965, a total of six twisters touched down in Minnesota, five of those in the western and northern metro. In all, 13 people were killed and nearly 700 were injured.
Fridley was particularly hard hit with homes, schools and businesses severely damaged. Allen Taylor, who was five at the time, wrote two books on the tornadoes.
"The worst part of the storms was how many came through. The odds of a tornado hitting an area is astronomical but to have three come through virtually in the same path is unbelievable. So a lot of people were crawling out of the debris, and you're in shock and here comes another one, and here comes one more so by the end of the night, they were scarred for life."
A special remembrance ceremony was held at Fridley High School Wednesday night to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
We have more on the 1965 tornado outbreak on this month's edition of Community CloseUp including interviews with some of the survivors.
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