Steele County declares state of emergency following heavy rain

Steele County has declared a state of emergency in response to widespread flooding throughout southern Minnesota.

The Steele County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday. In a separate motion, the commissioners authorized Board Chair Jim Abbe to sign a letter to Gov. Tim Walz requesting state and federal assistance funding.

The emergency declaration is a necessary step for the county to receive reimbursement from the state of Minnesota and the federal government for damages incurred during flooding.

According to Emergency Management Director Kristen Sailer, preliminary estimates indicate over $270,000 of damage within the county resulting from heavy rains and severe storms since June 16. The county has experienced over eight inches of rainfall in that timeframe, with some areas seeing more. Over half the total rainfall occurred June 20-23, leading to a sudden rise in water levels over the weekend.

The current estimate shoots well beyond the federal emergency threshold of $180,000, and is almost certain to rise. Sailer is still awaiting damage reports from area townships, which have not yet been totalled. These communities will still be eligible for assistance for damages reported after the emergency has been declared.

“All of the rivers and creeks and ditch systems have been overflowing with water, and all of the municipalities have incurred damages,” said Sailer.

While waters have begun to recede in Owatonna, the Straight River is still swollen far beyond its banks, engulfing some low-lying areas.

Sailer said high water levels may be concealing additional damage. She’s been working with the cities of Owatonna, Ellendale and Medford to collect damage reports, and awaiting information from the school districts in the county.

She noted flooding has struck neighboring counties Le Sueur and Blue Earth particularly hard, and the severity of the issue may prompt the federal government to declare a state of emergency for Minnesota.

Sailer told the People’s Press it will take a few months to ascertain the full extent of the damage.

Walz declared a peacetime emergency June 22, and several other Minnesota counties have followed suit.

Steele County last declared a state of emergency in December 2021 in response to severe storms, including at least one tornado touching down. The state of Minnesota provided the county with approximately $300,000 in disaster aid.