DULUTH, MN (Northern News Now) – A State of Local Disaster has been declared following an emergency meeting of The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners on Thursday.
This week’s rain and flooding events led the board to make the declaration. The City of Virginia also declared a state of local emergency following damage from the heavy rainfall.
The Little Fork River, which runs through the city of Cook, has overflowed its banks and has flooded much of the town. The flooding there played a large role in the County Board’s decision. Commissioner Keith Nelson estimates the damage in Cook alone will total millions of dollars.
The declaration allows for additional funding from the state to assist in current relief efforts and for repairs in the future.
Flood risks for the entire county continue as rainwater travels through watersheds and additional precipitation is forecasted for Friday and Saturday.
Road washouts, property flooding, and other storm damage are widespread throughout St. Louis County. The majority of the damage is located in the northern third of the county.
St. Louis County is, geographically, the largest in the state. Leaders say that the size and the many rural communities affected by storm damage make response efforts more challenging.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will visit Cook on Friday as part of his tour of flood damage across the region.
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