[ST. PAUL, MN] - Governor Tim Walz today announced the authorization of emergency assistance for areas of Northwest and West Central Minnesota following severe storms that caused significant destruction earlier this summer.

“Minnesota is committed to supporting communities in Northwest and West Central Minnesota as they recover from June’s storms, which brought hurricane force winds, severe flooding, and widespread damage,” said Governor Walz. “When I visited Bemidji in June with the state emergency management team, we witnessed neighbors helping neighbors, demonstrating a resilience that reflects the very best of Minnesota. We will continue to stand with them for the long recovery ahead. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the emergency responders whose tireless work and partnership have been critical to the recovery effort.”

On June 21, severe storms across Northwest and West Central Minnesota damaged infrastructure, caused power outages, and downed hundreds of thousands of trees. Governor Walz visited Beltrami County in June to survey the flood damage. Photos from that visit are linked here.

Funding and public assistance will aid Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Norman, and Todd counties, and the White Earth Band of Chippewa in rebuilding public infrastructure damaged by the storms. 

Following the storms in June, Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency directing state agencies to provide emergency assistance.