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State Representative Patti Fritz
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8237
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
NEWS COLUMN
RESPONDING TO THE DISASTER IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA
On Tuesday, September 11, the Minnesota Legislature met in special session to pass a disaster relief package to help flood-ravaged southeastern Minnesota communities and residents.
The flooding on August 18 and 19 caused millions of dollars in damage to private and public properties in the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha and Winona. Thousands of residents in the area were left without the basic necessities of life, including a roof over their heads, clean water and sanitation. Businesses were destroyed and many in the area lost their jobs. If help didn't arrive quickly, many of the communities in the area would have been unable to recover.
For that reason, I was glad to see the Disaster Relief Package pass with such overwhelming support. The legislation will provide a total of $157 million to communities in southeast Minnesota to help them rebuild and recover. The money will go toward road and bridge repair, public infrastructure projects, grants and loans to small businesses, low-interest loans to homeowners, property tax abatements, historic site clean up and repair, school clean-up, and flood enrollment impact aid for area schools.
The legislation also provided disaster relief to other parts of our state, including funds for drought-stricken farmers, flood relief for Browns Valley and Crookston, and forest fire damage in Cook County.
Even with this help, the communities in southeast Minnesota still face a long, uphill road to recovery. Fortunately, there's been an outpouring of support for residents of the area. If you're interested in helping, there remain a number of volunteer opportunities, most of which are being coordinated through the American Red Cross, the Southeast Chapter of the United Way and the Salvation Army of Rochester.
Ways you can help flood victims:
· To volunteer, contact the Southeast Minnesota Chapter of American Red Cross at (507) 287-2000, (507) 287-2200 or (507) 452-4258 .
· The Salvation Army in Rochester is accepting donations of food, clothing and other necessities. You contact them at (507) 288-3663.
· The United Way has set up a relief fund for flood victims in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It was initiated with $20,000 from the United Way of Olmsted County. Checks, made out to the United Way Flood Relief Fund, can be mailed or dropped off at the United Way, 903 W. Center St., Rochester, MN 55902. Donations also can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank or Associated Bank office.
It is truly hard to grasp the widespread devastation that resulted from last month's flooding. Small or large, the losses are personal and tragic to those involved. But if we each do our part and pitch in just a little bit, the road to recovery for our neighbors throughout southeastern Minnesota will be that much easier.
For more information, contact Rep. Patti Fritz at (651) 296-8237, 551 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.patti.fritz@house.mn.
News Items
- STATE REP. PATTI FRITZ PARTICIPATES IN START OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:32PM)
- Rep. Fritz: Homeowners, Farmers Need Property Tax Relief - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- Rep. Fritz: Let’s Vote on a Bonding Bill that Benefits All - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
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