Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Tony Albright (R)

Back to profile

Update on Flooding in Scott County

Monday, June 23, 2014

St. Paul – Flooding and rising waters are plaguing many parts of the state including Scott County, and it’s expected to get worse.

With this month’s heavy rains and severe storms, I hope your family has remained safe and dry. Unfortunately though, as for many other parts of the state, water levels are rising at historic levels. Even with volunteers sandbagging and local leadership preparing their cities and towns for rising waters, communities are experiencing damage due to the effects of the recent storms.

For us, there are particular concerns for Blakeley Township where washed out roads, landslides and road closures caused the evacuation of residents until further notice.  Flooding and landslides in the community of Jordan have caused damage as the Sand Creek rises out of its banks; and folks in Prior Lake continue to watch with dismay as heavy rains show no sign of slowing the rise in lake levels not seen for 50 years.

Senator Eric Pratt and I attended an emergency meeting convened by the Scott County Board of Commissioners on June 23 where they enacted several emergency measures to help the folks of Scott County.  

We discussed with them what else could be done in coordination with agencies at the state level.  The Board did enact No-Wake-Zones for local lakes that could last as long as 30 days and also set in motion emergency plans for communities most at risk.

Additionally, I have been in communication with Congressman John Kline about possible federal action. Both he and I are working together to ensure local residents get the information they need in regard to repairs, as well as monitoring potential forthcoming assistance from FEMA.

If you have already experienced flood damage, I would encourage you to contact the Department of Commerce’s Disaster Center. They can answer questions about insurance, consumer protection and work with your insurer to settle a claim.

More information can be found on their website http://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/disaster-information-center/ or you can give them a call at (800) 657.3602.

Governor Dayton has already declared a state of emergency for 35 flood-ravaged counties, and depending on the level of damage, a special session may be called to appropriate money for cleanup efforts and to receive matching dollars from FEMA.

I am hopeful that our communities in Scott County will not see additional flood or water damage. With more rain expected this week, I hope your family and property remain out of harm’s way.

If you have any questions or need assistance, I encourage you to contact my office.