Gov. Walz has determined that damage in Lyon, Martin, and Traverse Counties caused by storms with winds and flooding between Aug. 15 and 18, 2025, is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant the use of the Disaster Assistance Contingency Fund, as described in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12B.

This authorizes HSEM to: 

• allocate such amounts as you find necessary for state disaster assistance from funds available for these purposes.
• provide public assistance in the designated area; and
• provide additional assistance if requested by a local government and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, to the extent allowable under Chapter 12B

Gov. Walz has determined that damage in Freeborn, Norman and Red Lake Counties caused by storms with winds and flooding on Aug. 8, 2025, is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant the use of the Disaster Assistance Contingency Fund, as described in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12B.

This authorizes HSEM to: 

• allocate such amounts as you find necessary for state disaster assistance from funds available for these purposes.
• provide public assistance in the designated area; and
• provide additional assistance if requested by a local government and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, to the extent allowable under Chapter 12B

Gov. Walz has determined that damage in Big Stone, Fillmore, Houston, Kandiyohi, Pope, Steele, Stevens, Swift and Traverse Counties caused by storms with winds and flooding on July 27 and 29, 2025, is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant the use of the Disaster Assistance Contingency Fund, as described in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12B.

This authorizes HSEM to: 

• allocate such amounts as you find necessary for state disaster assistance from funds available for these purposes.
• provide public assistance in the designated area; and
• provide additional assistance if requested by a local government and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, to the extent allowable under Chapter 12B

Gov. Walz has determined that damage in Blue Earth, and Lyon Counties caused by storms with winds and flooding on July 18, 2025, is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant the use of the Disaster Assistance Contingency Fund, as described in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12B.

This authorizes HSEM to: 

• allocate such amounts as you find necessary for state disaster assistance from funds available for these purposes.
• provide public assistance in the designated area; and
• provide additional assistance if requested by a local government and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, to the extent allowable under Chapter 12B

Gov. Walz has determined that damage in Big Stone, Houston, Lac Qui Parle, Renville and Yellow Medicine Counties caused by heavy rains and flooding on June 25, 2025 is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant the use of the Disaster Assistance Contingency Fund, as described in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12B.

This authorizes HSEM to: 

• allocate such amounts as you find necessary for state disaster assistance from funds available for these purposes.
• provide public assistance in the designated area; and
• provide additional assistance if requested by a local government and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, to the extent allowable under Chapter 12B

Beltrami County experienced a destructive severe thunderstorm (derecho) in the early morning hours on June 21, 2025, with top winds estimated at 120mph, similar to a category three hurricane. This caused severe damage to public and private facilities and infrastructure, with several hundred thousand trees downed by strong winds.

On June 27, 2025, Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency.  

The U.S. Small Business Administration has declared a disaster and is offering SBA disaster loans. Please review the document below for details. 

HSEM-2025 Derecho SBA announcement.pdf

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) division is working with the Minnesota Incident Command System and local fire agencies to closely monitor wildfire activity across the state. Due to dry conditions and high winds in several regions, wildfire risk remains elevated.

On May 19, 2025, Governor Tim Walz declared St. Louis County a State of Emergency.

St. Louis County emergency declaration

What You Can Do:

• Refrain from outdoor burning, including brush piles and campfires, in restricted areas.
• Dispose of cigarette butts responsibly – never on the ground or in dry vegetation.
• Keep emergency kits and evacuation plans up to date, especially if you live near wildland areas.
• Follow all evacuation notices and guidance from local authorities.

We urge all Minnesotans to stay vigilant and take all necessary precautions to stay safe.  Your actions matter.

Public Reminder: “Stay Vigilant: Fire Season Is Not Over Yet”

As the Camp Creek and Jenkins Creek fires wind down, we must not let our guard down. Though nearing full containment, shifting fire weather—warmer temperatures, lower humidity, and increasing winds—signals rising risk, not rest. Fine fuels are drying quickly, and receptive landscapes remain vulnerable. Stay ready. Stay aware. Stay safe.

 

For more information on how to stay safe during a wildfire, please visit the CDC website.  

On July 1, 2024, the Federal Disaster Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Minnesota to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the severe storms and flooding beginning June 16, 2024, and continuing. 

Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in Blue Earth, Carver, Cass, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Watonwan counties.

On July 30, 2024, the declaration was amended to make federal funding available to affected individuals in Blue Earth, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. ​​

On Aug. 21, 2024, Brown, Itasca, Martin, McLeod, Mower, Nicollet, Redwood and Renville counties were added to the public assistance (PA) designation under Minnesota’s June 28, 2024, federal disaster declaration.

On Sept. 13, 2024, Martin and ​Murra​y Counties were added to the Individual Assistance declaration.  These two counties will get 60 days from the 13th to apply. 

On Sept. 20, 2024, the application deadline for individual assistance was extended to Oct. 27, 2024. 

How to apply for federal assistance:​ 

Online: DisasterAssistance.gov 

Mobile: Through the FEMA app 

Call: 800-621-3362 | 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS)

In-person: at a disaster recovery center

​​​Please have the following available: