DEPARTMENT: Office Of Risk Management
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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Declaration Of State Of Emergency For 2024 Summer Flood Event
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Declare State of Emergency for the 2024 Summer Flooding Event.
SUMMARY
Frequent heavy rains began in Dakota County, and throughout the state of Minnesota, on June 16, 2024. The rains continued for the next two weeks resulting in saturated watersheds and extremely high-water levels in the Cannon, Minnesota, and Mississippi Rivers which resulted in extensive flooding in Dakota County. To minimize flood impacts, municipalities within Dakota County took extensive protective measures to prevent damage from the flooding.
Dakota County's initial damage assessments from townships, cities and County departments totaled $768,984. By July 15, 2024, damage assessments grew to $1,368,984, which qualified Dakota County for the State Public Assistance Program. These damages were reported to the State of Minnesota Division of Public Safety Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) on June 26, 2024.
As municipalities began transitioning from emergency preventative actions to recovery efforts, they could better assess damages to prepare for the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and HSEM have begun conducting virtual Preliminary Damage Assessments by reviewing submitted impacts and contacting impacted townships, cities, and County departments when FEMA requires clarification or requests additional documentation on impact costs.
As impacts continue to be reported, the Preliminary Damage Assessments total has reached $3,659,721.60 which greatly exceeds our County Presidential Disaster Threshold, qualifying Dakota County for the Federal Public Assistance Program.
A copy of damage assessments by jurisdiction worksheet is included as an Attachment.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that the Dakota County Board of Commissioners declare a State of Emergency for the 2024 Summer Flood Event.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
If the FEMA and the State of Minnesota approves the request for Federal Public Assistance as part of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance for the State of Minnesota (FEMA-4797-DR), the County and other impacted jurisdictions will qualify for reimbursement of 100 percent of eligible costs. If after the Preliminary Damage Assessment, the County’s Presidential Disaster Threshold does not hold, but stays above the State Disaster Threshold, the County and other impacted jurisdictions will qualify for reimbursement of 75% of eligible costs.
2024 Dakota County State Disaster Threshold: $1,011,729
2024 Dakota County Presidential Disaster Threshold: $2,023,457
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County has experienced abnormal weather patterns since June 2024, including heavy rainfalls well above monthly averages that have resulted in saturated soil and elevated river levels; and
WHEREAS, on June 28, 2024, the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division declared the Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding Disaster DR-4797 with an incident period of June 16, 2024 - July 4, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding Disaster impacted the Dakota County population and caused a significant amount of public infrastructure and property damage; and
WHEREAS, the flood damages continue to become apparent as the flooding subsides and the overall impacts can be observed; and
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Director of Emergency Management requests the Dakota County Board of Commissioners to declare the existence of a State of Emergency in Dakota County as a result of the summer flooding event of 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby declares Dakota County in a State of Emergency based on the 2024 summer flood conditions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution is written and supported by the authority provided by Minn. Stat. § 12.29; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the State of Emergency will continue in effect for 30 days, or until such time that emergency response or recovery efforts are no longer required.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Flooding Emergency Declaration
Attachment: Damage Assessment Worksheet
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Kelly Miller
Author: Kelly Miller