Flood Relief News

St. Louis County Flood Resource Center

St. Louis County Flood Resource Center offers content on the latest flood news and activities. The Resource Center can be found at www.stlouiscountymn.gov/ flood. The Flood Resource Center includes available map services to utilize as recovery and rebuilding efforts continue. The map resources are located at www.stlouiscountymn.gov/floodmaps.

Free removal of flood-damaged materials

Free curbside collection of flood-damaged materials will be offered through July 19 in Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor, Rice Lake Township, Lakewood, Canosia, Grand Lake, Duluth Township, Solway Township and Midway Township.

The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District previously agreed to accept waste from the flood free of charge at its Materials Recovery Center off Rice Lake Road, but now it will provide door-to-door service for flood victims.

Duluth Mayor Don Ness asked that residents make use of this service only to deal with flood-related waste, not other types of garbage.

Residents are asked to sort flood-damaged materials into four categories:

Mixed waste, including bulky items such as carpet, drywall, furniture and other compromised materials.

Electronics such as televisions, computers and stereo components.

Appliances such as refrigerators or freezers (cleared of contents), air conditioners, water heaters, washers, dryers and dehumidifiers.

Vegetative debris such as tree limbs, stumps and brush.

Residents should dispose of any kitchen waste using their conventional garbage-hauling services.

Red Cross help

The Red Cross reopened its Duluth shelter Tuesday at the Secondary Technical Center on the Central High School campus, 802 E. Central Entrance, after receiving calls from people who had run out of temporary housing options.

“We were ready for a potential second wave of shelter clients,” said Judy Hanne Gonzalez, executive director of the Northland Chapter, in a news release. ”People have done everything they could to bridge the time until they could get

back into their homes. Some now realize that isn’t happening anytime soon and they have run out of options.”

Hanne Gonzalez said the Red Cross is beginning one-on-one casework, with volunteers ready to evaluate and help meet the needs of individual families. Residents affected by the floods who would like assistance from the Red Cross should call the Northland Chapter at (218) 722-0071.

Cleanup, emergency kits available

The Red Cross is distributing household cleanup kits and emergency kits from its office at 2524 Maple Grove Road in Duluth.

Free flood-recovery buckets available

Buckets filled with supplies to help clean up homes from flooding will be available at Faith United Methodist Church, 1531 Hughitt Ave., Superior (the Church behind Hardees) for pickup this week. Anyone from the area who has experienced damage from flooding can receive a kit.

The supplies are provided by Wisconsin and regional United Methodist Churches through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The five-gallon buckets with resealable lids include scouring pads, sponges, scrub brush, cleaning towels, liquid laundry detergent, household cleaner, dish soap, clothesline, dust masks, disposable waterproof gloves, work gloves, heavy-duty trash bags, insect repellent spray, air freshener and clothespins. Call (715)394-9608.

Veterans can get flood grants

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is offering Disaster Relief Grants for reimbursable expenses to veterans in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Dakota, Goodhue, Lake, Rice and St. Louis Counties. Veterans, their families and surviving spouses may be eligible for reimbursement assistance of up to $750 if they have not received other state or federal assistance.

Veterans and their families should contact their respective County Veteran Service Office to apply for a Disaster Relief Grant, or call (888)546-5838 for assistance finding the location and phone number of their CVSO. All eligible applications and copies of receipts for expenditures must be dated no earlier than June 13, 2012, and the application must be postmarked no later than Sept. 30, 2012.

St. Louis County assessor needs your flood story

If structures on your property have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the recent flooding disaster, you may be eligible to receive some property tax relief on this year’s property taxes as well as property taxes payable next year. The type of tax relief you could receive will depend on whether your property is homesteaded, whether it is within a declared disaster or emergency area, the amount of damage sustained and a variety of other factors.

Information about damage to your property can be submitted at www.stlouiscountymn.gov, by calling the County Assessor’s office at (218)726-2304, or by visiting a County Assessor’s office in the Duluth Courthouse, the Virginia Northland Office Center or the Ely Services Center.

Carlton County property assessments

Carlton County needs to inspect and reassess all properties damaged in this week’s flooding, Carlton County Assessor Marci Moreland said. The purpose of the reassessments is for property tax relief and to help determine eligibility for any federal assistance that may become available.

Inspections began Monday. To get an accurate accounting of damage, it is best that property owners do not make any repairs before the inspection, unless the repairs are necessary immediately.

Property owners who suffered damage due to the floods can call the assessor’s office at (218)384-9142 or (218)284-9144. Callers who can’t reach anyone are asked to call (218)384-9149 and leave their name, address and phone number.

Storm sand debris sites reopen

Because of widespread flood damage, the city of Duluth is reopening the spring Road Sand Collection sites for homeowners (no contractors) for disposal of sand and gravel left by the storm. The sites are for sand and gravel only, no large rocks or brush, please. The sites are for homeowner disposal, not contractors.

The collection sites are marked with black silt-fencing and a sign. They are open to all Duluth residents to dump road sand from their yards, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Sites are at the following locations:

34th Avenue East and Valley Drive

Chester Bowl

Duluth Heights Community Club

Lester Park

Piedmont Community Center

Stowe School

Wheeler Field

Woodland Community Center

Catch basins lead directly to our streams and Lake Superior, not to the wastewater treatment plant. Please do not dump anything into them. Contact the city of Duluth at (218)730-4130 during business hours or (218)730-4100 on evenings and weekends to report any illegal discharge or dumping.

For additional information regarding this program, please contact Project Coordinator Chris Kleist at (218)355-0598.

Water test kits

The Douglas County Health and Human Services Department is offering water test kits for Douglas County residents who have private wells that may have been contaminated as a result of last week’s flooding.

If you’re experiencing a noticeable change in drinking water quality, or your well or well cap have come into contact with flood waters, your well could be contaminated.

People should stop using water from the well and use bottled or boiled water for consumption, and test the well. If contamination is found, the well needs to be disinfected.

Test kits for wells can be obtained at the Douglas County Health Department, Suite 324 of the Government Center, or call (715)395-1304 for information.

Municipal water supplies such as those in the city of Superior and Manitou Valley area are tested for contamination during the rainfall, and these systems are safe, the Health Department said.

For more information about disinfecting a well, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/pubs/BactiInWell.pdf.

The Minnesota Department of Health is offering free well water testing kits for people who have private wells that were under water or if flood water came within 50 feet of the wellhead. Information on testing and disinfecting wells is available from local health departments, the MDH Northeastern District Office at (218)723-4642, the MDH Central Office at (651 201-4600, and www.health. state.mn.us/divs/eh/emergency/natural/floods/index.html. Free water test kits, including sample bottles and instructions, are available by calling these locations:

Aitkin County, 1-888-900-2138

Carlton County Planning and Zoning Office,

218-384-9176

Lake County Public Health, 218-834-8400

Pine County Health and Human Services, 320-216-4100

St. Louis County Public Health Department,

218-725-5210

Private water testing laboratories can also test water samples for bacterial contamination: https://apps.health.state.mn.us/eldo/public/accreditedlabs/labsearch.seam.

Register to volunteer or to get help

People who need to report damage to personal property or who need volunteers or other assistance should continue to call 211, or (800)543-7709 from a cell phone, or complete the survey at www.unitedwayduluth.org at the “GET HELP” tab.

Businesses should contact Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to report their damage. Complete the web survey at http://sgiz.mobi/s3/d09f8604baef.

People interested in volunteering to help with flood cleanup and recovery efforts can now register online.

To register, go to the city of Duluth website at www.duluthmn.gov and click on the crawling red “DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY” banner at the top of the page or go to the United Way of Greater Duluth website at www.volunteerduluth.org and click on “GIVE HELP” button on the left side of the page.

To register, people will answer a survey asking for contact information, availability, experience and skills. The information will go into a centralized volunteer registration database, allowing the city and other coordinating organizations to match volunteers with needed help.

Mail available

Duluth-area residents who are not receiving mail because of closed or impassable roads can pick up their mail at the Duluth Main Post Office or the Mt. Royal Station until regular delivery is restored. Customers should bring a current photo ID.

Customers in ZIP Codes 55802, 55805-808, and 55810-812 should go to the Main Post Office at 2800 W. Michigan Ave. Mail will be available for pickup during window hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Customers in ZIP Codes 55803 and 55804 can collect their mail at the Mount Royal Station, 2800 Mt. Royal Shopping Circle, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Report damage

Minnesota residents with storm damage should report it immediately to their county emergency managers.

Aitkin (218) 927-7436

Carlton (218) 384-9518

Cook (218) 387-3059

Duluth (city) (218) 730-4357

Lake (218) 226-4444

Pine (320) 629-8385

St. Louis (218) 625-3966

Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe (218) 878-7502

Health tips

The Minnesota Department of Health has created a web page for health-related flood information at www.health.state.mn.us/2012flood.

Help with insurance claims

Insurance experts with the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s consumer response team can help Minnesotans understand their rights, work with insurers to settle claims and help storm victims make informed insurance decisions. The team can be reached at (651)296-2488 or (800)657-3602 or consumer.protection@state.mn.us.

YMCA offers use of facilities

The Duluth Area Family YMCA and the Superior YMCA have opened their doors to victims of the flooding that has occurred in the Twin Ports.

In response to community need, both YMCA locations are welcoming people who need showers to use the showering facilities for free.

If you and/or your family have suffered damage to your home, the Y is here for you. Contact the Duluth Area Family YMCA at (218) 722-4745 or the Superior YMCA at (715) 392-5611 for more information.

MN Department of Commerce helpline and tips

Following severe weather events, the Minnesota Department of Commerce is on hand to help consumers understand their rights, resolve insurance claims, and provide energy and weatherization assistance to low-income Minnesotans.

All Minnesota residents affected by the storms are encouraged to visit the Commerce Department’s Disaster Information Center or call the Consumer Response Team. CRT representatives are available to assist Minnesota consumers between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at (651)296-2488 or (800)657-3602 (Greater Minnesota) or by e-mail at consumer.protection@state.mn.us.

Insurance experts at the CRT can help Minnesotans understand their rights, work with insurers to settle claims, and help storm victims make informed insurance decisions after a flood or storm damages their home, auto, or property.

Following severe weather or flooding, the Minnesota Department of Commerce has resources for providing certain repair services to income-eligible households. Services for income-eligible households (200 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines) may include: primary heating system replacements and repairs, including ductwork and venting, flue or chimney repairs; water heater replacement or repair, including venting and flue work; and furnace repair or replacement.

These services are considered for homes affected by a disaster only after all private insurance, FEMA and other disaster-related resources have been utilized. In addition, qualifying households must be located in a designated disaster area and be directly affected by the disaster.

Contact your local provider or the Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Information Center at (800)657-3710 or by e-mail at energy.info@state.mn.us.

What to do after a storm

If a storm damages your property, follow these simple steps:

Be safe. Look out for downed power lines, etc. Do not try to go into an area until the official time is given.

Call your insurance company to report the damage. It adjusters will review the damage and assess the loss. Take photos of the damage and remove personal property if your home cannot be secured. Do not dispose of property until an insurance adjuster has reviewed it for your claim. Many policies include reimbursement for storage costs incurred until your home is repaired.

Beware of storm-chasing contractors. Do not agree to a contract without checking their references and checking with the Department of Labor’s Residential Contractors Division at (651)284-5069.

Call the Minnesota Department of Commerce. For questions regarding insurance call the Minnesota Department of Commerce Consumer Response Team at (651)296-2488 or (800)657-3602. You can also visit their website: http://mn.gov/commerce/.

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