FEMA ready to tally Minnesota storm damage - KMSP-TV

Preliminary damage assessments of flood and storm damage in 13 Minnesota counties and the Fond du Lac tribal nation will start Tuesday.

State and local officials, along with FEMA and Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials, are not able to access the storm-battered and flooded areas of Duluth and northeastern Minnesota until floodwaters recede and storm debris is cleared.

"It's important for the water to have receded and enough debris cleared away for the teams to access the areas they need to see," said Kris Eide, director of the state's division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Four teams composed of federal, state and local officials will assess the storm damage. Here's the schedule:

Tuesday: Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota and Sibley counties will be toured.

1. At 9 a.m., FEMA and HSEM officials will gather at the Western Service Center in Apple Valley
2. At 10 a.m., a FEMA investigator will arrive at the Courthouse ITV Room in Grand Marais
3. At 11 a.m., a FEMA official will be at the Historic Courthouse in Brainerd 
4. At 2 p.m., a FEMA investigator will be at the Henderson Fire Hall in Henderson
   

Wednesday: Aitkin, Goodhue, Kandiyohi, Lake and Meeker counties will be surveyed.

Thursday: Carlton, Pine, Rice and St. Louis counties will be toured.

Friday: Fond du Lac Tribal Nation damage assessments will begin.

The preliminary damage assessments conducted this week will focus on public property. Officials will determine how much federal money should be used to repair public buildings, certain roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure as well as reimburse for debris removal and emergency response costs.

Home and business owners in all affected counties should report damage to their county emergency managers so officials can begin to determine the extent of damage to private property. Visit the Minnesota Recovers page.

The preliminary damage assessment is the first step in determining if Gov. Mark Dayton will make a request for a presidential declaration of disaster.

DISASTER ASSESSMENT STEPS

1. Local and state initial impact assessment

This began last week when HSEM engineers met with local officials to identify facilities impacted, damage, impacts to the communities and their demographics.

2. Request for preliminary FEMA assessment

Teams from the affected county, HSEM and FEMA conduct the assessment. They view the damage and collect the cost estimates from county officials. The teams review local emergency response records, American Red Cross records if individual homes are involved in the assessment, and compile figures for all affected counties. If the damage exceeds the federally determined damage threshold of $7.2 million statewide, the process continues.

3. HSEM prepares governor's request for a disaster declaration

This letter details the storm event, citing National Weather Service data. It must document factors that determine severity, magnitude and impact. It also documents what local officials did to respond to the emergency.

Local input is gathered on the amount and type of damage, impact on infrastructure, impact on essential services, level of insurance coverage, assistance available from other sources and if there is an imminent threat to public health and safety.

4. Governor submits the letter to the president through FEMA

FEMA reviews and sends the letter, with its recommendation to the president. The president is the only one with authority to grant a Presidential Disaster Declaration. If assistance programs are approved, HSEM officials work in partnership with FEMA to assistance disaster victims in their application for funds.