Governor Walz and FEMA provide update on Minnesota’s flood outlook

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Administrator Tom Sivak to provide an update on the state’s current flood outlook.

The press conference, which took place on Friday, featured members from the Department of Public Safety, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and others. It discussed the current status of Minnesota’s flood situation and the state’s ongoing emergency response to the flooding.

The conference started out with Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson thanking local officials for their efforts to protect their communities across the state. he also reminded residents and authorities to document the damage caused by the flooding.

Gov. Walz then came to the podium to provide more detail on what the state is currently facing. The National Guard remains in Waterville, where the community is experiencing its worst flooding event on record. The state peacetime emergency has also been extended, and Walz said they have submitted their federal disaster declaration request, with that decision still waiting for approval. He emphasized the importance of not getting careless and continuing to take the situation seriously even as flood waters begin to recede.

Tom Sivak from FEMA then spoke, praising the efforts of agencies at all levels for their efforts in recovery and prevention during the floods. Sivak said at his direction, FEMA has sent workers to assist in ongoing efforts, including evaluating the damages caused by flooding. Sivek noted that they have seen “extensive damage across Minnesota” but repeated that the governor’s request for federal assistance is still pending approval. He also emphasized that individuals looking to receive individual assistance should take photos of the damage done to them to better their chances of receiving help. He also said to reach out immediately to insurance companies if they hadn’t done so already.

NWS Meteorologist Dan Hawblitzel also spoke during the conference. He assured everyone that the rain on Thursday night would not impact the state’s flooding and would, at most, prolong its current effect. Hawblitzel also said that drier weather this weekend would help see flood waters reduced.

However, he warned a significant crest is being tracked in the Minnesota River. That crest resulted in record flooding in Henderson on Wednesday and brought record-tying flooding to Jordan on Friday morning. It is expected to next go to Savage, where it will cause major flooding.

Additional major flooding along the Minnesota River is expected to occur in St. Paul on Saturday evening and Hastings before it merges with the St. Croix River and causes above-moderate flooding in Winnona and other downstream locations.

Hawbitzel also said they would be keeping an eye on the precipitation expected on Monday and Tuesday, which is expected to bring one to two inches of rain. However, with the dry weather on Saturday and Sunday, he expects the rain will not cause any major concerns so long as it remains in the one to two-inch range.

You can watch the live stream in the video above, or by CLICKING HERE.