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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.
Communities Take a Break as Water Recedes
 For the first time in weeks, counties impacted by repeated heavy rain and flooding have an opportunity to breathe. HSEM’s regional program coordinators report receding waters in southwest Minnesota.
Sandbagging operations have stopped. If rivers continue to drop and the thunderstorms subside, the sandbags may be removed altogether in places like Windom and Jackson.
Emergency managers are taking this time to assess damages to public property and infrastructure. That information will be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for consideration in the request for joint federal-state-local preliminary damage assessment.
Learn more information on the disaster declaration process.
Request for FEMA Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment
 HSEM has made the first step in requesting federal disaster assistance following a month of continuous storms, heavy rains, flooding and damaging winds in 36 Minnesota counties and one tribal nation. Director Joe Kelly submitted a request for a joint preliminary damage assessment (PDA) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on July 9. The process includes representatives from FEMA, HSEM and affected counties. The PDA will review damages sustained to public property and infrastructure in to determine if they are eligible for disaster assistance.
HSEM has requested the joint federal-state-local PDA to begin on July 19, since floodwaters are still high in several communities and counties will need time to prepare. Read more about the FEMA’s disaster declaration process.
When Lightning Strikes: Detection System Would Keep Soccer Players Safe
Imagine this: you’re sitting on the sidelines of a soccer field, watching your child play in another game. Dark clouds roll in. People are getting worried, but the coaches and refs still haven’t yet called off the game. That’s where a lightning and heat detection system can help make the call for you.
HSEM is teaming up with the National Sports Center in Blaine to install such a system on its soccer fields where more than 15-thousand children compete in the annual USA Cup. The system would sound a horn when there is lightning in the area or when the heat index reaches a certain limit. It would partially be paid for using hazard mitigation funds from FEMA—who is currently reviewing the National Sports Center’s application.
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Featured Video
Video Description: This video shows what happens behind the scenes during an exercise in the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). |
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