Flooding Information

Heavy rainfall in June on already saturated ground has led to flooding and road and culvert washouts throughout the county. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office - Emergency Management, Public Works, and other departments have worked together and in partnership with townships, cities, and other agencies to respond.

Information for business owners:

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering disaster loans to affected businesses. A Business Recovery Center is operating at the Cook Fire/Ambulance Hall, 111 Second Street Southeast in Cook, open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walk-in appointments are available on a first come, first served basis, or people can schedule an in-person appointment through the SBA website at appointment.sba.gov.

Information for property owners:

If your property sustains structural damage due to flooding, you may be eligible for some relief. Below is a list of currently available relief and any noted deadlines:

• For those seeking tax extensions The Minnesota Department of Revenue is extending the deadline for residents and business owners affected by the flood who have Minnesota tax returns or payments due from June 16 to July 4. You will not be assessed penalties or interest if you contact the Dept.of Revenue to request an abatement before November 1, 2024. Learn more: Taxpayers affected by recent severe storms and flooding get more time to file and pay their Minnesota taxes   | Minnesota Department of Revenue (state.mn.us)
• For Veterans and Surviving Spouses seeking disaster grants The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) has activated the SSAP Disaster Relief Grant which provides $500 grants to Veterans and Surviving Spouses of Veterans impacted by the disaster. Contact the Veterans Service Office to apply, Veterans Service (stlouiscountymn.gov).
•  For those seeking FEMA Relief, because the June flood event is now a Presidentially Declared Disaster, federal financial assistance is available for eligible homeowners and renters in the form of grants to cover costs of temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster. Homeowners and renters who sustained damage in the flood are encouraged to fill out the online form at disasterassistance.gov OR visit FEMA's in-person Disaster Recovery Center operating out of the St. Louis County Public Works facility in Virginia, 7823 Highway 135, open Monday-Satuday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with all appointments on a first come, first served basis.

If you have a septic system, here's guidance from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on what to do before, during and after a flood: What to do with your septic system during a flood (state.mn.us). If you have any septic questions, please contact the Planning and Zoning Onsite Wastewater Division at 218-471-7103 or email at oswinfo@stlouiscountymn.gov.

CDC Guidance for Septic and Online Wastewater Systems

If your private well has flooded, it may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites that could make you sick. (If floodwater reached your well, you should assume it is contaminated. If floodwater came within 50 feet of your well, it is still recommended you have it tested as a precaution.)

Recommendations and instructions: Flood Precautions for Private Water Wells -Minnesota Department of Health

Disinfecting Flooded Private Water Wells (state.mn.us)

Accredited Labs Accepting Drinking Water Samples from Private Well Users

Additional health guidance:

St. Louis County Public Health Disease Prevention and Control currently has MDH private well testing kits for distribution to residents whose well flooded following the June storm event. Public Health staff can provide further information about the test kit return process. We will respond to any additional flood or testing related questions you may have at this time. Please contact:  

Diane Seiloff Yourczek (Iron Range and northern half of county) 218-471-7609
Susan Van Norman (Duluth area and southern half of county) 218-725-5291

 Individuals with questions and concerns directly for MDH about flooding and private wells and flooded private well water testing may reach out to the following: Well Management Section general phone number or email address: 651-201-4600 or send an email to health.wells@state.mn.us .  Private well owners will be directed to leave a message and our staff will get back to them and address their questions and concerns.

 Minnesota Department of Health: Floods - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Safety Guidelines: Floodwater | Floods | CDC

For help with clean up:
Residents who need help with clean up of flooded basements can now request free help through National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD). To request assistance, call 218-288-2213.

Sandbagging:

Residents seeking sandbags should contact their city or township to check availability. 
Additional tips: Flood-Fight Handbook - Preparing for a Flood (stlouiscountymn.gov)

Road closures:
All County roads are now re-opened. A few forest roads remain closed until repairs can be completed.

Current Road Closures 

Information for government jurisdictions:
Townships and cities should be taking the below steps in case an emergency declaration is declared:

• Have good documentation with photos of problem areas
• Have contractors invoice flood-related work separate from normal work
• Have contractors clearly identify the location of work on the invoice
• If material is brought in, the address and GPS coordinates of the source will be needed
• Measurements of roadway repairs for documentation. Ie: width, length and depth
• Differentiate between emergency, temporary and permanent work
• Identify a primary point of contact for communication with St. Louis County, Contractors, etc.
• Plan for public messaging and getting correct information out to residents
• Contact Emergency Management if any questions.