The tornadoes that struck the Albert Lea area on June 17, 2010, will be stuck in the minds of many for years. The stories the Tribune told in a six-part series that wraps up today — and the ones we told in the days, weeks and months afterward — only begin to touch the surface.

We take our role in covering the disaster very seriously. We were there moments after, gathering information and providing it to you on our website. We have been there in the time since and will continue to be there because it matters.

Hopefully, the stories we are able to tell capture what is happening on behalf of all the tornado victims. Hopefully, readers have found the information and data we have gathered helpful. Hopefully, we have made a difference.

We thank you for reading the series, and we thank all area residents for helping neighbors and friends after the tornado outbreak. When a disaster brings out the best in a community, it’s easy to see what a great place it truly is. Albert Lea and the communities around it are outstanding.