Stillwater to hold public meeting on flood preparations Monday, FEMA releases preparation tips

The City of Stillwater will give an update on preparations for potential spring flooding on Monday.

The meeting will cover the spring flood forecast, scheduling for constructing a temporary dike, parking lot closures, sandbagging operations and overall security.

The meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Stillwater City Hall.

With flood risks this year above normal in much of Minnesota and Wisconsin, FEMA is also offering several tips to help residents avoid expensive repairs and stay safe.

Residents are advised to stay in tune with the latest weather updates and form an emergency communications plan with loved ones.

Homeowners should also know where the gas, water and electrical shutoff switches are located.

Steps should be taken to waterproof basements. Some proactive measures include installing a water alarm and an emergency pump.

Emergency weather alerts from local municipalities can be found here. Anyone can also sign up for real-time alerts by downloading the FEMA app.

More information on flood preparations and flood insurance can be found by visiting FloodSmart.gov, or by calling 1-800-427-2419. Another site with helpful flood preparation info is Ready.gov/floods.