Homeland Security and Emergency Management

A Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety

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What's New?

Localized Flooding Possible with Snowmelt

Picture of how flooding effects pedestrians, cars and SUVs

What a difference one week makes. From April’s historic blizzard to a weekend of the warmest temperatures of the year, the snow is melting at a quick pace. That means, areas around Minnesota’s rivers and streams could see localized flooding. The Twin Cities National Weather Service is closely monitoring flood warnings. Meteorologists say as long as we don’t get any rain in the coming days, there shouldn’t be major flooding.

A stretch of Highway 93, outside of Henderson in Sibley County, closed for part of the weekend due to water over the road. Remember—it only takes 12 inches of fast-moving water to carry a car away. Turn around, don’t drown! Do not drive cars through flooded areas. Review flood safety measures here.

School Safety Center Answers Calls for Help

Picture of the Byron High School Door with Locked Message
Dozens of Minnesota school districts have requested school safety assessments following several incidents around the country. The Minnesota School Safety Center (MnSSC) staff are fulfilling those requests in cities like Montevideo, Eyota and the Twin Cities.

The assessments bring together administrators, educators, law enforcement and emergency managers as they consider, “What keeps you up at night?” They also tour school buildings to identify safety concerns and other hazards such as:

Entry points that may need to be secured.
Sightlines that may need to be improved.
Adding security systems like cameras and locks.

At a recent visit in Byron, MnSSC staff also guided district officials through safety training, drill protocols and safety best practices.

Preparing for Spring’s Severe Weather

Severe Weather Awareness Week reminder
Despite winter’s tight grip, spring is here in Minnesota. It won’t be long before we see thunderstorms roll into the state. It’s a good time to refresh your family’s emergency plan should severe weather strike.

Minnesotans should stay alert and be prepared for the following safety threats:

Follow the HSEM Facebook and Twitter pages to learn new ways to stay informed this severe weather season.

Historic Snowstorm Causes Significant Damages

Downed Power Lines in Rock County
Two days after digging out of Minnesota’s historic April snowstorm, we’re finally starting to see the damaging effects.

Nobles County is reporting more than $48 thousand in damages—after high winds caused a widespread power outage for three days. Firefighters established shelters and went door-to-door to check on residents. Other first responders helped residents get to shelters and set up generators for critical facilities.
In Rock County, officials reported more than 100 broken power poles leaving more than 1,700 people without power. Responders worked over the weekend to clear downed power lines that barricaded roads. They also conducted search and rescue operations during the outage.

HSEM recovery staff are working with both counties to schedule preliminary damage assessments to determine if the damages will be eligible for reimbursement through the State Disaster Contingency Account.