La Crosse tornado damage costs hit $9 million

La Crosse Tribune

A tornado that tore through La Crosse's South Side on Sunday afternoon left at least $9 million in damages in its wake. Residential damage already had reached $5.8 million, according to preliminary estimates released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs' Division of Emergency Management. The twister destroyed nine homes, caused severe damage to 28 and minor damage to 97.

Nine businesses had serious damage, totaling $3.6 million.

The 150-yard wide tornado with 120 mph winds sliced across the South Side from 4:23 to 4:27 p.m. along a 2.3 mile path from Green Island Park to the bluff at the end of Farnam Street.

"Some people don't have a building to come back to," fire department Capt. Tom Wallerich said.

LAX Trib