ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton has sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for St. Louis County. Between October 9 and October 11, 2018, a severe windstorm with wind gusts as high as 86 miles per hour and storm-surge flooding hit the county. In the letter, Governor Dayton describes damage across the City of Duluth from the powerful winds and flooding. Debris was found along the entire shoreline of the city.

 

“Strong northeast winds began blowing the evening of October 9. By the morning of October 10 the winds reached gale force levels, generating massive 20-foot waves on the open waters of Lake Superior,” Governor Dayton wrote. “Fierce wind gusts as high as 86 miles per hour – equivalent to those associated with a Category 1 hurricane – were recorded up the shore east of Duluth. Destructive waves 5 to 10 feet high battered the shoreline and generated storm-surge flooding that overtopped the shipping canal.”

 

If granted by the President, the federal disaster declaration requested by Governor Dayton would provide needed assistance to St. Louis County for uninsured and eligible storm-related damage to public infrastructure. Examples of eligible expenses include debris removal, and the repair or replacement of storm-damaged public infrastructure such as roads, shoreline revetments, parks, public utilities, and Duluth’s famous lakeside boardwalk. The state also may be eligible for federal aid available to individuals and households seriously impacted by the severe storm and flooding. 

 

The FEMA threshold for public infrastructure assistance is $7.9 million in statewide eligible damages. If the President declares a major disaster, FEMA would fund 75 percent of approved costs. Under legislation signed by Governor Dayton in 2014, the State of Minnesota would pay the 25 percent non-federal share.

 

When an event occurs that is beyond the response and recovery capabilities of local and state governments, the State of Minnesota initiates a process to seek assistance from the Federal Government.

 

• Local and State Officials Conduct Initial Impact Assessments – These assessments occur shortly after the storm when local officials inform Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) which facilities in their community are impacted or damaged, and the impacts to residents.

 

• HSEM Requests FEMA to Conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment – Teams from affected counties, HSEM, and FEMA conduct the assessments. They view the damage and collect the cost estimates from county officials. Each county must meet its individual threshold, which is defined as population times $3.68. The state also must meet a threshold of $7.9 million statewide. 

 

• HSEM Prepares the Governor’s Request for a Disaster Declaration – A letter (like the one Governor Dayton sent to President Trump today) details the event and cites National Weather Service data. It must document factors that determine severity, magnitude, and impact. It also documents what local officials did to respond to the emergency. Local input regarding impact to the community is gathered and incorporated in the letter. This includes the amount and type of damage, impact on infrastructure, impact on essential services, concentration of damage, level of insurance coverage, assistance available from other sources, and if there is an imminent threat to public health and safety.

 

• Governor Submits the Letter to the President through FEMA – FEMA reviews and sends the letter, with its recommendation to the President. The President is the only one with authority to grant a Presidential Disaster Declaration. If assistance programs are approved, HSEM officials work in partnership with FEMA to assist disaster victims in their application for funds.

 

-