Dodge County Blizzard Response Included Fire and Collapsed Roofs

Mantorville, MN (KROC-AM News) - Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose today released a summary of his department’s response to the weekend blizzard.

The report shows Dodge County deputies were involved in rescuing between 95 and 100 stranded motorists after by heavy snow and winds gusting to almost 60 mph created the drifts as high as 9 feet tall across numerous rural roadways. In addition, the Dodge County Sheriff's Department responded to an industrial fire at the McNeilus plant in Dodge Center and two reports of roofs collapsing due to heavy snow.

Sheriff Rose says around 30 people were housed in shelters Saturday night and nearly 40 spent the night Sunday and emergency shelters set up in several Dodge County communities.

Reports from Steele County indicate over 100 stranded motorists were still being housed in an emergency shelter last night. The Minnesota Department of Homeland Security earlier reported that over 600 motorists had to be rescued throughout the region.