EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents of Northern Minnesota Affected by Spring Flooding

FEMA Denies Individual Damage Assistance, SBA Offers Alternative Assistance for Lake of the Woods County

FEMA has concluded its Individual Damage Assistance assessments for our area. Unfortunately, FEMA found that there was not enough damage to individual structures essential living space to qualify or breach the threshold for the Individual Assistance Program.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low interest/long-term loans to qualified individuals and businesses that were affected in the April 22 to June 15, 2022 Lake of the Woods Flood.  

PROGRAM INFO

Businesses of all sizes, non-profits, faith-based organizations, homeowners and renters can apply for physical disaster loans for their uncompensated losses (for example, damages not covered by insurance).

Small businesses and non-profits can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help with cash flow. They do not need to have physical damages to apply, but they need to show economic losses directly linked to the disaster.

Any small business or non-profit that applies for a physical disaster loan will automatically be considered for an Economic Injury Disaster Loans. They do not have to put in a separate application.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration # 17612.

Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 7, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 7, 2023.

https://www.sba.gov/article/2022/sep/08/sba-offers-disaster-assistance-businesses-residents-northern-minnesota-affected-spring-flooding

Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials are requesting damages to private property due to recent flooding.

All property owners in Lake of the Woods County who sustained flood damage to their private property from April 22, 2022, to present, are asked to complete a damage assessment survey by no later than Thursday, July 21st.

Damages must be to primary homes (non-agricultural).  Damage must be in an essential living space. FEMA’s definition of an essential living space is as follows: “a room within a home that serves the function of a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and/or living room that is regularly occupied or used by one or more members of the household and requires repair to bring its functionality back to the home.” You are also requested to list any damages to privately owned driveways, roads, bridges, wells, and septic tanks.

It has not yet been determined if federal assistance will be made available to private property owners.  People are asked to complete the survey should assistance be made available.

Please fill out the form by clicking this link Initial Damage Assessment Form. After filling out the form please save to your computer and send as an attachment via email or fax it to 218-634-1143.

Volunteers needed; on June 29^th and June 30^th from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm to fill sandbags at Highway Department Office located at 306 8^th Ave SE, Baudette, MN 56623. Volunteers (18 years and older) MUST check-in. No need to call in advance.

During normal working hours Monday – Friday from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm the sand bagging machine will be set up at the Highway Department Office for use. Please call in advance so we can ensure an operator will be there.

If there are any questions or special requests regarding extending operational hours or the handling of material, contact the Highway Department at 218-634-1767.

Lake of the Woods County will donate $30.00 per hour per volunteer to the Lake of the Woods County charity/organization of your choice.

On Friday, June 10, both sand bagging machines will be removed from Graceton Beach Sandbagging location and set up at the County Highway Department.  The public may use the machines with a County Highway Department worker present.  Report to the County Highway Department office to check-in at 306 8th Ave SE, Baudette, MN 56623 before using the sand bagging machine.  Sand bagger hours will be from 8 am until 3:30 pm unless other arrangements are made.  General phone calls about sand bags contact the Sheriff’s Office.  Calls with specific requests or questions (extended hours or material handling) contact the Hwy Dept office at 218.634.1767. The Hwy Dept will have sandbags available for filling.

Calling for Volunteers to fill sandbags 9-5 starting on 6/2/2022

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old: Check in location for Volunteers at the Graceton Beach Road Site

Sandbagger Location and Volunteers: Graceton Beach Road 4027 50th Ave NW, Williams. Filled sandbags on pallets- must return pallet.

Sand pile locations for self-bagging:

• Clementson Park
• Lake of the Woods County Garage, 306 8th Ave SE, Baudette
• Northwest Angle County Garage
• Sportsman’s Lodge 3244 Bur Oak Rd NW, Baudette
• Ken-Mar-Ke Resort 3147 Ken Mar Kee Dr NW, Baudette
• Zippel Bay Resort 6080 39th St NW, Williams
• Cul-de-sac South end of Sandy Shores
• Cul-de-sac Northern Pike Lane Winter-Sette
• Krohns Addition Area- 4091 Wildwood Drive- Williams
• Long Point Resort 7046 Resort Ln NW, Williams
• Rocky Point Area-
• Arneson’s Resort

Empty sandbags can be picked up at the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office at 206 8th Ave SE, Baudette,  Graceton Beach Road 4045 50th Ave NW, Williams and at the Northwest Angle County Garage.

Sand Bag filling instructions

The Lake of the Woods County Emergency Management would like all residents to document any damages from the flood/high waters. This may be done by taking a video or by photographing the damage along with documentation of your name and address.

Questions call Dispatch 218-634-1143

Lake of the Woods County recommends any residents near the lake or river go to the County’s Beacon webpage and select the ‘Flood Contours’ box to see the elevations around their property.  The red line represents an elevation of 1064’; the orange is 1066’; and the green is 1068’.  If your home is near a red line, preventive measures should be considered.  If you are planning to build a dike, the Highway Department can provide an elevation marker.  If any County residents have questions, contact the Highway Department at (218)634-1767.

https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?App=LakeoftheWoodsCountyMN&PageType=Map

Lake of the Woods County recommends any residents near the lake or river go to the County’s Beacon webpage and select the ‘Flood Contours’ box to see the elevations around their property.  The red line represents an elevation of 1064’; the orange is 1066’; and the green is 1068’.  If your home is near a red line, preventive measures should be considered.  If you are planning to build a dike, the Highway Department can provide an elevation marker.  If any County residents have questions, contact the Highway Department at (218)634-1767.

https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?App=LakeoftheWoodsCountyMN&PageType=Map

Submit a complete Flood Damage Inventory Form, to either the Land Water Planning office or Soil Water Conservation District, in-person or by mail. Complete all relevant portions as accurately as possible to help ensure quicker processing.” Click here for Flood Damage Inventory Form 

Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office has sandbags available call 218-634-1143 for more information.

Empty sandbags can be picked up at the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office or County Highway Department on 8^th Ave SE, Baudette and at the Northwest Angle County Garage.

Sand locations for filling:

• Clementson Park
• Lake of the Woods County Garage, 306 8th Ave SE, Baudette
• Northwest Angle County Garage
• Sportsman’s Lodge 3244 Bur Oak Rd NW, Baudette
• Ken-Mar-Ke Resort 3147 Ken Mar Kee Dr NW, Baudette
• Zippel Bay Resort 6080 39th St NW, Williams
• Cul-de-sac South end of Sandy Shores
• Cul-de-sac Northern Pike Lane Winter-Sette
• Krohns Addition Area- 4091 Wildwood Drive- Williams
• Long Point Resort 7046 Resort Ln NW, Williams
• Rocky Point Area- Arneson’s Resort
• Graceton Beach 4027 50^th Ave NW, Williams
• Oak Harbor Golf Course 2805 24^th St NW, Baudette

Sand bagging machines:

• County Highway Department 306 8th Ave SE, Baudette

Sand bagger hours will be from 8 am until 3:30 pm unless other arrangements are made. Call with specific requests or questions (extended hours or material handling) contact the Hwy Dept office at 218.634.1767. The Hwy Dept will have sandbags available for filling.

The University of Minnesota Extension has an extensive library on flooding and other disaster preparedness, response and recovery resources.  This website has fact sheets, pages, guidebooks and videos with research-based tips on immediate and long-term flood issues.

The Army Corps of Engineers has created guidelines for building temporary sandbag levees.

How to sand bag— https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Portals/57/docs/Public%20Affairs/Brochure/2019_Sandbag_Brochure_3-2019.pdf?ver=2019-03-04-165150-357

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJj4B8t38-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5XxJbVimQ8

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Mark LaValla

(218)634-3302

(218)766-8246 Cell

Wayne Carlson

(218)634-1413

(218)280-7396 Cell

Olson Construction

(218)634-1101

(218)556-9407 Cell

Lake Area Construction

Rex Block

(218)783-6531

Mike Gamache

218-684-1259

University of MN Extension: https://extension.umn.edu/flooding/cleaning-after-flood

Cleaning and sanitizing with bleach after and emergency: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/bleach.html
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/pdfs/BLEACH_USE-fs-P.pdf

Mold: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/pdfs/You_Can_Control_Mold.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/siaHy9yBuEA

Reopening outdoor public spaces after flooding: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/rra/reopening-outdoor-spaces-after-flooding.html

Facilities Damage: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/extreme-weather/building-damage.html

Wells:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/docs/wells/disinfectflood.pdf

Disinfecting wells after a disaster:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/private-drinking-wells.html

Sanitation and wastewater: Septic and onsite wastewater systems:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/sanitation-wastewater/septic.html

http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/ww/septic/epa_septicwater_protection.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-05/documents/epa816f05021.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/septic

On May 13, 2022 Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office enacted an emergency no wash, no wake ordinance on all Lake of the Woods County waterways. 

Due to the increased lake and river levels from snow melt and recent heavy rains the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office is asking boaters to consider 150 feet from shore to be a no wash, no wake zone on all of our area lakes and rivers.

One of the main reasons for establishing no wash, no wake zones is to prevent fragile shoreline from being eroded by the large waves that are caused by a boat when it is passing under power. Now with the increased lake and river levels boats have the ability to operate under power closer to the shorelines that previously were more protected from the waves caused by the passing boats. 

UPDATE: The Commissioner of the MN Department of Natural Resources approved the extension to October 31,2022 or until the high-water levels have subsided.

County waterways.

LOW County extension letter June 6 2022

Volunteers are needed to fill sandbags 9am-5pm on Wednesday, June 8th

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old:

Sandbagger Location and Volunteers

Graceton Beach Road 4027 50th Ave NW, Williams

Residents can pick up prefilled sandbags on pallets.  We are asking all pallets be returned.