NORTHWOOD (AP) - The city of Northwood is kicking off a five-day remembrance to mark the first anniversary of a tornado that killed one person, injured 18 and destroyed much of the Grand Forks County town.

The tornado, rated an EF4, struck last Aug. 26, causing an estimated $60 million in damage.

Seeing the devastation "absolutely took the breath out of me," said city administrator Marcy Douglas.

Now, she said walls are going up on a new school and 170 building permits have been issued. The hospital is adding an assisted living wing and a twin-home housing project is being built.

"There is a lot of work that has been going on," Douglas said. "One minute you think it has been just a very short time (since the tornado), and other times it's hard to remember life before it."

Douglas said many communities hit by disasters anticipate up to a 50 percent loss in population. She estimates Northwood's loss at less than 2 percent of its population of about 950, and she expects the city to grow.

The remembrance concludes with a community worship service next Tuesday. In between will be food, games, speeches and a street dance.

Douglas said the goal is to remember the tragic event as well as celebrate the city's success over the past year.

Northwood students have been attending school in nearby Hatton.

Superintendent Kevin Coles said the schools have been sharing computer, chemistry, and physical education classes. Next year, Northwood's new school will be finished.

A new fire station is finished and the grocery store reopened last January and ground will be broken on a new municipal airport hangar.