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Metro Residents Cleaning Up Debris After Severe Overnight Storms

PHOTO GALLERY: Severe Weather -- July 18

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It was a busy day of clean up for residents all over the metro.

"Big winds, lots of rain and the ground did a little rumble," Sylvia Person, from Burnsville, said.

Crews were called to Person's neighborhood on Maple Island Road at 4 a.m. Saturday. Four power line poles had collapsed causing power outages. Trees blocked residents from getting in or out.

"We've pulled out 40 loads of debris in the last six, seven hours," Burnsville street superintendent Dan Tobritzhofer said.

Person lost six trees on her property, including a maple tree completely uprooted. She says it'll cost thousands to tear them all down.

"We'll probably plant something smaller but those trees will never exist again," she said.

Trees were also down scattered throughout the metro, including St. Louis Park, Plymouth, and Richfield. The damage continued from land to water.

"It was just horrendous and very sudden," Sue Arnett, who lives on Crystal Lake in Burnsville, said. "From calm lake [and] calm wind to massive wind."

Larry Ihle's pontoon was completely submerged on Crystal Lake after straight line winds flipped over the boat launch.

"I think it's destroyed," Ihle said.

Residents say it will take days to clean up Maple Island Road. They're grateful no one was hurt.

"They come together during crisis, and this neighborhood is every bit like that and we're appreciative of that," Ihle said.

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