Minnesota flooding puts homes, businesses underwater (2024)

ST. PAUL — For more than a week, flooding across nearly half of Minnesota has closed down roads, left homes saturated with water and nearly caused a major dam to fail.

The heavy flooding, mostly in Greater Minnesota, led Gov. Tim Walz to declare a peacetime emergency , authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to be available to provide support for emergency flood operations.

“Across the state, intense rain has had catastrophic effects. Flooding has left entire communities under feet of water, causing severe damage to property and numerous road closures. As flooding continues, the National Guard is ready to step up to help our neighbors,” Walz said. “Their response will provide invaluable support that will be critical in ensuring the safety of Minnesotans during this difficult time.”

Counties are encouraged to apply for federal disaster declaration funding, but Walz said earlier this week he may call a special session if damage costs run higher than the $26.64 million for emergency relief in state funds.

Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, who represents some of the hardest hit areas in northeast Minnesota, also called for a special session to address infrastructure needs related to flooding.

As of Thursday, the National Weather Service still had a flood warning for parts of southern Minnesota including south of the Twin Cities along the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, though the agency expected water to recede later into the day.

Storm chances also have the potential to return in southern Minnesota on Monday and Tuesday. The agency's river models predict minor to major floods across southeastern Minnesota headed into next week.

Daniel Hawblitzel, the meteorologist in charge for the National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen, said as a result of the heat dome over the East Coast, there are signs this weather pattern may continue over the next few weeks.

The recent heavy rainfall and accompanying floodwaters led authorities to believe that the Rapidan Dam on Blue Earth River near Mankato was in “imminent failure condition.”

The combination of the raging water and debris plugging spillways caused the river to divert around the west side of the hydroelectric dam and rapidly erode the bank, destroying an Xcel Energy substation and threatening a longtime store and restaurant popular with anglers and other dam visitors.

A house near the dam fell into the river Wednesday after a portion of the house was undercut by the raging river though the dam remains in place, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

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MPR reported on Thursday morning that, according to county officials, the dam remained stable. However, the volume and velocity of water were making it difficult to deter erosion.

Forty-six members of the National Guard were deployed to support the city of Waterville this week after the city, which is 24 miles west of Mankato, and the surrounding area received around 14-18 inches of water, causing evacuations and “significant damage,” according to officials.

“We’ve spent the last several days witnessing the devastation our residents and businesses are enduring,” said Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson. “In so many cases, it is simply unimaginable. We can’t change that, but we can be there for all those affected by these rains and flooding. This will not be a short-term solution. We are here for the long haul. To be a shoulder, to be a resource and to be there during and after the recovery.”

Jacobson’s agency, working with several state partners in the State Emergency Operations Center, has responded to support requests across the state that local communities cannot provide.

This included surveying and assessing damage, flood modeling, providing sandbags and water pumps to counties impacted by flooding and prison labor from Faribault Correctional Facility to help with sandbagging.

In Rochester, rounds of heavy rain from Friday through Saturday night last week — bringing 4.5 inches of rain — put crews on alert to respond to potential flooding as the Zumbro River and its tributaries through the city rose to near flood levels. The flooding caused a temporary street closure.

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

Some of the most severe flooding was in downtown Cook in St. Louis County and other low-lying areas near the river. The region had more than 8 inches of rain with more possibly on the way.

The northeast region of Minnesota is expected to have strong to severe storms on Monday and Tuesday, including gusty winds and small hail, according to the National Weather Service.

Several businesses shut down due to safety concerns in Cook, including an assisted living facility and a hospital .

“Flooding of the downtown areas seems likely at least through the weekend,” the National Weather Service said. “High water on the river and in low-lying areas of town could continue through next week and into next weekend.”

St. Louis County officials say there had been some improvements in the area, including the hard-struck Cook community.

About 90 miles south of Cook, flooding was also affecting a campsite in Scanlon.

“This isn't standard flooding," said Randy Vine, owner of the Fond du Lac Campground in Scanlon. "In the spring, we'll get a little bit that'll come up into the parking lot once in a while, but this is significant.”

Vine estimated that 75% of his campsites are flooded by roughly 7 inches of water. The flooding prompted Vine to vacate the campground during Grandma’s Marathon weekend — one of his busiest weekends of the year.

Since the heavy rains of June 18, St. Louis County officials have recorded more than 1,000 incidents of damage, involving both public infrastructure and private property.

The Fargo/Moorhead area also saw mild flooding last month, prompting a change to the annual marathon route .

Olivia Estright, Jimmy Lovrien, Ingrid Harbo, Macklin Caruso and John Molseed contributed to this story.

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group