Olmsted County Declares Local Emergency After Sept. 2 Storm

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Olmsted County Board has voted to declare a state of local emergency in the aftermath of the severe storm that smashed through southeastern Minnesota on September 2.

Olmsted County Declares State of Local Emergency

According to a news release, the declaration clears the way for local jurisdictions in Olmsted County to apply for emergency assistance from the state of Minnesota. That assistance would help defray the expenses incurred in restoring power and clearing away debris from the storm.

Damage Assessment Is Next Step

The next step in the process will be for Olmsted County Emergency Management to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Homeland Security and Emergency Management division. If the assessment determines the damage meets the threshold set by the state, a request for a state disaster declaration will be submitted to Gov. Tim Walz.

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State Disaster Declaration Could Unlock Funding

If approved, a state disaster declaration would allow the City of Rochester and other local governments to apply for funding from the Minnesota Disaster Assistance Contingency Account, which could cover up to 75% of the cost of the emergency response.

Nearly 11,000 RPU Customers Lost Power

The storm system produced straight-line winds of nearly 70 mph and knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses in the Rochester area. Rochester Public Utilities General Manager Tim McCollough now says that nearly 11,000 RPU customers experienced outages as a result of the powerful storm. The City of Rochester has reported that its personnel have responded to nearly 650 storm-related tasks, which have largely involved widespread tree and limb damage.

Earlier this week, Rochester officials issued a statement indicating the cleanup process could continue for another two to three weeks.

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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross