The Minnesota Senate today unanimously passed its first bill of the 2020 legislative session, a $30 million appropriation for the state’s Disaster Assistance Contingency Account. The bill, authored by Senate President Jeremy Miller (R-Winona), allows the state to provide fast assistance to help local communities recover from spring flooding, severe thunderstorms or windstorms, tornados, or other natural disasters, without the need for a special legislative session.

“This funding goes out to local communities throughout the state, under tight criteria, so we can help our neighbors recover when a disaster strikes,” said Sen. Miller. “Obviously we are all hoping that this account will not have to be used, but it’s important we are prepared if a natural disaster does occur. I am proud of the bipartisan support for this bill, and I look forward to getting it to the governor’s desk for his signature.”

Since 2014, the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account has been used 40 times to help local communities following natural disasters. Worse-than-expected flooding in the spring of 2019 left the account with a $3 million deficiency. Sen. Miller’s disaster relief bill wipes out that deficiency and replenishes the account in preparation for possible future disasters.

John Bowen, Crow Wing County Emergency Management Director, also representing the Assoc. of Minnesota Emergency Managers, and Winona County Emergency Management Director Ben Klinger present the disaster relief funding bill in committee.