Storm damage? These resources will help
By Senator Mike Goggin
Southeast Minnesota was hit hard by severe storms on August 27 that brought heavy rains, straight line winds, and even a tornado. The severe weather devastated much of the area. In Red Wing, for example, the damage was extensive – the storms destroyed a hangar that was being constructed at the airport and caused more damage to nearby planes and infrastructure.
The news wasn’t any better for residents, many of whom had their homes, garages, or sheds damaged. Fallen trees and downed powerlines were common sights. There were multiple reports of power outages; more than 3000 people lost power in areas affected by the storms.
Officials had to evacuate a number of southeast Minnesota residents due to life-threatening flood conditions caused by the heavy rains. Many roads were completely under water.
Luckily, there were no serious injuries reported. For this, we can count our blessings.
The immediate concern after any storm is obviously the safety and well-being of our neighbors, our family members, and our community. The next step is the recovery process. Unfortunately, we know what needs to be done because we have been through it many times before.
If you have suffered damage to your home or other property, your first step should be to report it to your local emergency management personnel, regardless of how much damage you received. That information is as follows:
- Goodhue County Emergency Management Personnel: (651) 267-2639
- Prairie Island Indian Community, Goodhue County Tribal Police: (651) 267-4040
- Wabasha County Emergency Management: (651) 565-3069
- Winona County Emergency Management: (507)-457-8266
The Department of Commerce’s Consumer Services Center can help with your questions, help you understand your rights, and help you navigate the complicated – and often confusing – process of working with your insurer to settle claims.
You can reach them by phone at (800) 657-3602, by email at consumer.protection@state.mn.us, or online at https://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/your-home/protect/dic/
If your property was damaged, you might find it helpful to review some of the disaster recovery resources published by various state agencies.
- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency has disaster recovery resources for homeowners, renters, business owners, local officials, and more: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/disaster-recovery/Pages/homeowners-renters.aspx
- The Department of Commerce provides a detailed disaster information packet: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/disaster-recovery/Documents/commerce-disaster-packet.pdf
- The Department of Commerce also has information that will help guide homeowners who have experienced flood damage: https://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/your-home/protect/other/floods/what-to-do.jsp
It is never easy to have your life turned upside down by severe weather, even when the damage is minimal. But we are resilient, and storms have a way of strengthening our bond. By relying on our neighbors and our community, I know that we will recover and rebuild just as we always have.
If you have any questions about the recovery process or need assistance working with state agencies, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I will help in any way I can.