Olmsted County Declares Disaster After Tornadoes Cause Widespread Damage

No injuries reported, but dozens of homes sustain major damage across the county.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:06am

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A dramatic landscape painting in the style of Caspar David Friedrich, depicting a massive tornado dominating the frame with its swirling vortex of dark clouds and heavy rain, dwarfing any damaged structures or debris in the foreground.A powerful tornado rips through Olmsted County, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.Rochester Today

Multiple tornadoes tore through Olmsted County, Minnesota on Friday, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office reported no injuries or fatalities, but said that around 30 homes were damaged, with 12 sustaining major damage, primarily in the Marion Township area. The county has issued a disaster declaration, and emergency services have disconnected electricity and natural gas in the affected areas for safety. A temporary shelter has been established in Rochester for displaced residents.

Why it matters

Severe weather events like these tornadoes can have a major impact on local communities, disrupting lives and causing extensive property damage. The disaster declaration will allow Olmsted County to access state and federal resources to aid in the recovery efforts and support affected residents.

The details

According to Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, the hardest hit area was Marion Township, where about 30 homes were damaged and 12 sustained significant damage. In Stewartville, 14 homes had minor damage while 8 reported major damage, displacing 15 residents. Quincy Township also reported a damaged home and severely damaged shed. Emergency services have disconnected utilities in the affected areas for safety, and a temporary shelter has been established in Rochester to house displaced residents.

  • The tornadoes struck Olmsted County on Friday evening.
  • The Olmsted County Board issued a disaster declaration on Friday.

The players

Olmsted County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency that provided updates on the storm damage and response efforts.

Sheriff Kevin Torgerson

The sheriff of Olmsted County who reported on the extent of the damage and the county's response.

Olmsted County Board

The governing body of Olmsted County that issued a disaster declaration in response to the tornado damage.

Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management

The state agency that is assisting with the response and recovery efforts in Olmsted County.

Rochester Fire

The local fire department that is part of the response and recovery efforts.

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What they’re saying

“No injuries or fatalities have been reported, and the Olmsted County Board has issued a disaster declaration.”

— Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, Olmsted County Sheriff

What’s next

Olmsted County is requesting that residents complete a preliminary damage assessment if they have experienced property damage, with reports able to be submitted online. The temporary shelter in Rochester will continue to house displaced residents as the recovery efforts continue.

The takeaway

This tornado outbreak in Olmsted County has caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure, but fortunately no injuries or fatalities have been reported. The disaster declaration will allow the county to access additional resources to support the recovery process and assist affected residents in the weeks and months ahead.