In response to floods, Janesville City Council extends state of emergency to November

As the region continues to recover from a hard-hitting series of floods, Janesville has become the latest local city to extend its state of emergency so as to help local families and businesses access insurance funding and federal assistance.

The council voted to extend the declaration of emergency all the way to Nov. 12, with a clause in its resolution stating that the state of emergency could end much sooner if the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determines the flooding emergency to be over.

As originally drafted, the resolution was only expected to extend the state of emergency for an additional month, at which time the council could reconsider it at its meeting as it gathers more and more information about the extent of flooding damage.

However, councilors were interested in amending the resolution to provide greater length and clarity. Specifically related to the flooding which took place in mid-June, the resolution wouldn’t cover other or cases of natural disaster, requiring the city to pass a new ordinance should disaster strike again.

Jakob Lehrke, grounds superintendent for city-owned golf course Prairie Ridge, spoke at the meeting and noted that the course has managed to retain its revenue, enabling it to keep up with rising costs as popular events continue to bring people to the course.

That said, Prairie Ridge was hit hard by the recent flooding, like so many businesses and households throughout the area. Recent floods not only kept people away from the course but left part of the driving range covered in floodwater, requiring extensive cleanup efforts.

With the extended declaration of emergency, Prairie Ridge and other city owned agencies and departments will have plenty of time to assess damage from flooding and make insurance claims not only for the damage but also overtime work related to the storms.

Minnesota’s state government has about $24 million in its disaster assistance account ready to help those in need across 22 counties which the Biden Administration approved for aid at the end of last month, including Waseca County and neighbors on all sides.

The state has committed to covering about a quarter of the disaster relief tab, with the federal government picking up the remainder. The cost of the flooding is certainly likely to come out in the tens of millions of dollars, with state and local officials just beginning to estimate it.

Janesville City Administrator Clinton Rogers suggested that waiting until November might provide just enough time to ensure that the city, along with businesses and families, can get a fuller picture of all flood-associated costs and submit applications to the state and federal governments to help cover expenses related in any way, shape or form to the flooding.