HSEM Requests FEMA to Assess Damages to Homes and Businesses

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Individual Assistance
Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to return to Minnesota. HSEM is requesting joint preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) for more than 1,200  homes and businesses that sustained damages from severe storms between June 15 and July 12.

The 10 counties included in this request are: Cottonwood, Fairbault, Jackson, Kanabec, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Redwood and Renville. The PDAs will determine if affected home and business owners are eligible for individual disaster assistance through FEMA.

Public Assistance
Gov. Mark Dayton has submitted a request for a presidential disaster declaration for the same time period. Joint federal-state-local PDAs conducted last month found more than $21 million dollars in severe weather damage sustained to public property and infrastructure. FEMA will now review the request and send a recommendation to the president for consideration. Read Gov. Dayton’s letter.

Read about the disaster declaration process.

Ramsey County Receives State Aid for Rockslide

 

Gov. Mark Dayton has authorized State Disaster Assistance for Ramsey County after an April rockslide forced the closure of Wabasha Street in St. Paul. The funds will reimburse the county for debris cleanup costs and repairs to stabilize the slope. An engineering study found that the bluff is still at risk of failing and protections are needed to prevent another slide.

A damage assessment, conducted by HSEM, estimated the cleanup and repair costs at more than $1 million. Under Minnesota law, the state will cover 75 percent of eligible costs and counties are responsible for the remaining 25 percent. Learn more about the State Disaster Assistance Contingency Account.

Read Gov. Dayton’s authorization letter.

School Safety Center Work Continues Through Summer

​It may be summer break for educators and students alike, but Minnesota School Safety Center (MnSSC) staff are not taking time off. New numbers show just how much outreach they have completed this year.

MnSSC staff have held 97 outreach events with school districts across the state, addressing issues like school safety and emergency operations planning. In all, our programs have reached an estimated 1,300 school personnel. More school safety assessments and training opportunities are scheduled throughout the summer months. Most recently, MnSSC staff visited Polk County to discuss:

• School safety planning and training.
• School resource officer implementation.
• Emergency communications.
• Public safety resources.
• Shared educational/crisis team resources.

The cooperative and coordinated efforts in safety shared among local public safety agencies and schools has become an emerging trend in Minnesota. The group will be working with the MnSSC on further safe school training, exercises, and best practices in school safety protocols and procedures.