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Wet Year in Minnesota Drowns Crops
Minnesota has seen a historic wet year—starting with spring flooding followed by a rainy summer. All that water means farms are still under water or too wet to harvest, especially in the Red River Valley in northwest Minnesota.
The ongoing problem is why HSEM Director Joe Kelly recently joined Gov. Tim Walz for a roundtable with farmers. With rivers, streams and lakes still running high, flood concerns could continue through next spring, depending on how much snow the state sees this winter.
Read more about the harvest woes and how the state is working to alleviate the issue.
Nine Counties Will Receive State Disaster Assistance
Gov. Walz has authorized state disaster assistance for nine counties that sustained damages caused by severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding. The storms rolled through Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Le Sueur, Wabasha and Winona counties during July 16-20. Local roads, publically-owned utilities and parks sustained extensive damage.
HSEM staff conducted a preliminary damage assessment and verified more than $2 million in eligible damages to public property and infrastructure. Recovery specialists will now work with the counties as they make repairs and pay for response costs.
The state will cover 75 percent of the costs, with local governments covering the remaining 25 percent. Learn more about the state disaster declaration process.
Working Across State Lines to Keep Schools Safe
The Minnesota School Safety Center (MnSSC) recently learned how educators and law enforcement are working together in Clay County, Minnesota and Cass County, North Dakota to keep schools safe. Representatives from the two counties highlighted their unified school response program, which allows them to streamline emergency planning and support each other with response procedures during a bad day.
The interstate collaboration is an example of how communities work together to keep students safe; before, during and after an emergency. Read the latest MnSSC newsletter.
A New, Safer Minnehaha Academy
 The huge windows let in lots of light. You can gaze out to green spaces with beautiful trees, contemplating a fact you’ve just learned or letting your brain work out a math problem. The new Minnehaha Academy Upper School manages to be both a peaceful, safe place to learn and thrive and a memorial of the natural gas explosion that destroyed the old building and killed two people on Aug. 2, 2017.
The Minnesota School Safety Center (MnSSC) has been with the academy every step of the way. Find out how they’re helping create a safe, welcoming environment in our latest DPS blog.
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