Budget Recommendations for Disaster Assistance, School Safety and Railroad Safety

​Gov. Tim Walz is proposing budget funding for three HSEM programs—aimed at keeping Minnesotans safe and communities resilient before, during and after emergencies and disasters. Gov. Walz detailed the funding requests in his Community Prosperity plan:

1. Disaster Assistance Contingency Account: These funds reimburse communities for damages to public property and infrastructure after a state-declared disaster. With an active severe weather season in 2018, the account is now depleted. Gov. Walz recommends additional funding of $10 million for the next two fiscal years.
2. The Minnesota School Safety Center: Currently, a staff of three people conduct hundreds of school safety trainings at districts across the state for educators and school resource officers. With a recent increase in requests, Gov. Walz recommends $250,000 per year to support two additional staff members to meet this growing need.
3. Railroad and Pipeline Safety: Since 2014, HSEM has diligently worked to train first responders on how to respond to rail and pipeline incidents involving hazardous materials. Gov. Walz recommends reinstating the annual $2.5 million assessment of rail and pipeline companies to continue these preparedness efforts.

Read the governor’s complete budget recommendation for HSEM’s programs.
Review his Budget for One Minnesota.

Presidential Disaster Declaration Granted for Lake Superior Gale Force Winds

​Communities along Lake Superior will be getting some much needed help to recover from devastating gale force winds that damaged major tourist towns last fall. The Presidential Disaster Declaration means the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reimburse St. Louis County communities for repairs to public property infrastructure.

Some of those damages include: flooding to public property, a battered lakeside boardwalk and overwhelmed water/sewer systems. A state-local joint preliminary damage assessment determined Saint Louis County sustained more than $11.5 million dollars in damages during the historic storm.

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.