Citing increased frequency of storms and flooding, Governor Tim Walz is asking the legislature to add 30 million dollars to the state’s Disaster Assistance Account. Norman County Emergency Management Director Garry Johanson supports it, noting his northwestern Minnesota county in the Red River Valley saw three disaster declarations in the past five years. Johanson says there have been “two state declarations, both tornadoes and flooding,… one federal disaster declaration: a major flood in 2019, totaling 1.5 million in damages, including the loss of a bridge.”
State emergency management officials say they’re keeping a close eye on spring flood forecasts.