Learn Life-saving Skills During National Preparedness Month

From hurricanes along the East Coast to wildfires on the West Coast, America is not immune from natural disasters. Neither is Minnesota after receiving a presidential disaster declaration for the flooding and severe weather damages sustained in June and July. Being prepared can keep your family safe and protect your property. Remember, disasters are never planned. But a family plan could make a big difference in a disaster.

1. Know where your gas and electrical shutoff is located.
2. Make an emergency plan for your household and practice it.
3. Make sure you have insurance.
4. Plan for your pets.
5. Back up important documents.

Building an emergency kit and using mobile devices to keep important information at the ready can also be helpful. Learn more about National Preparedness Month.

Governor Dayton Secures Major Disaster Declaration

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Twenty-seven counties and three tribal nations in Minnesota will receive federal assistance after the president issued a major disaster declaration on September 5. The funds will reimburse counties, cities, and tribes for repairs to damaged public property; as well as response costs related to severe storms between June 15 and July 11. Governor Dayton requested the federal assistance last month.

The following locations are eligible for disaster assistance: Aitkin, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Faribault, Itasca, Jackson, Koochiching, Lake, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Redwood, Renville, Rock, St. Louis, Sibley, and Watonwan Counties, as well as the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation.

Joint federal-state-local preliminary damage assessments found more than $21 million dollars in damage sustained to public infrastructure. HSEM will now work with FEMA to fund 75 percent of approved costs. Under state law, Minnesota will pay the 25 percent non-federal share out of the State Disaster Contingency Account.

Review the Disaster Declaration Process.

Small Business Administration Offers Loans for Storm Damages

​Disaster assistance is now available for Minnesota property owners who sustained damages from severe storms between June 15 and July 12. A U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) declaration covers Lyon and Redwood counties, along with the surrounding counties of: Brown, Cottonwood, Lincoln, Murray, Pipestone, Renville, Yellow Medicine, and the Lower and Upper Sioux tribal nations.

The declaration means owners in those counties can apply for low-interest disaster loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged property.

The application deadline for physical property damage is Oct. 29. The deadline for economic injury applications is May 28, 2019. This news release includes more information about the SBA disaster assistance and the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers. This fact sheet contains helpful details.