Browse
Log in / Register
Share
ROCHESTER, Minn. – On September 4, 2024, the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners officially declared a state of local emergency in response to the severe storms that swept through the area two days earlier. The storms, which struck on the evening of September 2, knocked out power to thousands of residents and left a trail of downed trees and debris across the county.
The emergency declaration is a procedural first step that allows local officials to formally document storm-related damage and set the stage for potential financial relief from higher levels of government. Under Minnesota law, a local emergency declaration does not, by itself, unlock state or federal funds, but it initiates the damage‑assessment process required to apply for assistance.
That assessment will now be conducted by the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). Field teams are expected to begin surveying affected areas within days, tallying the cost of repairs to public infrastructure—roads, bridges, public buildings, parks, and utility systems. According to county officials, preliminary estimates suggest damage could exceed the threshold needed for a state disaster declaration, though no specific dollar figure has been released.
If HSEM determines that damage to public property meets the statutory minimum, the governor’s office can approve a state disaster declaration. That declaration would make Olmsted County, along with any other eligible local governments in the region, eligible for reimbursement covering 75 percent of eligible cleanup costs through the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account. Notably, the fund only covers damage to public infrastructure; private property losses, including damage to homes or businesses, are not reimbursable under this account.
“We’ve seen extensive damage in neighborhoods and along major corridors,” said a spokesperson for the Olmsted County Emergency Management Office. “Our immediate focus is on clearing roads and restoring critical services, but we also want residents to be aware that documenting their own losses is important. Federal assistance may become available later if the state declaration meets FEMA thresholds, though that’s a longer process.”
Res
