Updates on Northland roads, shelters, storm-damage assessment

Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mona Dohman will be in Duluth as well as Carlton and Pine counties today to meet with local officials regarding Preliminary Damage Assessments.

The assessments will be used to determine Minnesota’s qualification for a Presidential Disaster Declaration. The assessments are the first step in requesting assistance which helps communities repair sidewalks, streets, public buildings and other public infrastructure as well as private not-for-profits. Public assistance also helps pay for debris removal and costs associated with emergency response.

Public Assistance is not designed to assist individuals, and it is too early in the process to determine the need for individual assistance, according to Minnesota State Emergency Operations.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Kris Eide has requested assistance from FEMA to conduct Preliminary Damage Assessments in 14 Minnesota counties and the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe. The counties are: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Goodhue, Kandiyohi, Lake, McLeod, Meeker, Pine, Rice, Sibley and St. Louis.

State Emergency Operations released the following county and city updates this morning:

Carlton County