NEW INFORMATION: 45-year-old man killed in Barron Co. Tornado

(WEAU)
Published: May. 16, 2017 at 7:46 PM CDT
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The Barron County Sheriff's Department is releasing new details after a tornado touched down Tuesday night.

According to Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, a 46-year-old man was found dead following the storm. The name of the male victim is not being released at this time. A post on the Barron County Sheriff's Department Facebook page says crews responded to the Prairie Lake Estate Mobile Home Park around 5:30 p.m Tuesday night. The mobile home park contained 50-60 trailers and several of them are destroyed. First responders searched through the rubble overnight, and all area residents of the mobile home park have been accounted for.

The department says 17 people were taken from the scene to area hospitals with approximately 5-10 more were hurt who refused treatment.

A shelter and reception center is open in Cameron at the Mosaic Telephone Company. Barron County authorities are asking the community to not bring any more donations to the emergency shelter located at Mosaic Telecom in Cameron at this time due to limited space. The department says it plans to update the public on where donations can be dropped off until all needs are assessed.

The National Weather Service will send Damage Survey Teams to the area Wednesday morning to assess the locations, strengths, and numbers of tornadoes.


BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) --One person is confirmed dead in Barron County along with 25 injured after a tornado hit.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald confirmed one person has died in Barron County at the mobile home park in Prairie Lake Estates. Fitzgerald also says there are at least 25 injuries reported.

"I Started to hear the wind. I looked outside my door and I saw the garbage can go flying and then I went into my living room and then I saw the trees bending. Then all of the sudden I heard popping and things fell over. I ran to the bathroom and I came out and saw this," Sarah Zurn who lives at Prarie Lake Estates Mobile Home Park told WEAU 13 News.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald says the park is destroyed following a tornado that touched down in Barron County. He also said damage reports are coming in from the surrounding area.

"Tomorrow we will reassess this and we will do some rescue and recovery operations if needed, we will hopefully not need that. Then we will assess the damage we have several other areas in the county that has damage," Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said crews will stay on scene through the night. Wednesday crews will continue any additional search and rescue operations and continue to clear debris from roadways.

"There are no other injuries that I am aware of at this time in other locations. Between Chetek and Cameron there were several other areas that were damaged but this mobile home park was the center or the hub where most of our destruction is," Sheriff Fitzgerald explained.

The American Red Cross has two reception centers set up. The first center is located at Mosaic Telecom in downtown Cameron. The other reception center is located at 311 East Miner Ave. in Ladysmith.