DULUTH — The St. Louis County Board declared a state of local disaster Tuesday, April 25, after the quick melt of this winter’s record-setting snow led to flooding issues and damage.
The declaration allows the sheriff's Emergency Management Division to seek funding assistance from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on behalf of itself along with cities, townships, unorganized areas and public utilities within the county.
County staff are working with local jurisdictions to gather and submit damage assessment estimates to the State of Minnesota Homeland Security Emergency Management Division, a St. Louis County news release stated. If approved by the state, funding would help reimburse costs to repair damaged public infrastructure and other flood response expenses.
Anyone encountering unsafe road conditions should call 911 to report the location. Motorists are reminded to not drive through standing water as it can be unclear how deep it is.
Meanwhile, St. Louis County Public Works has continued to reopen roads as water levels recede and repairs can be made. Five more roads were able to reopen this week. A map showing current road closures, as well as other resources related to flooding, can be found at stlouiscountymn.gov/flood. This map also includes forest service roads maintained by the county's Land and Minerals Department.
Here is the list of roads closed due to unsafe conditions caused by high water, as of the afternoon of Tuesday, April 25.
District 5 (Duluth and surrounding townships)
- County Road 166 from Highway 5 to Stenstrom Road.
- Seville Road between Caribou Lake and Solway roads.
- Highway 8 between Highway 33 and South MacArthur Road.
District 6 (Central St. Louis County, including quad cities)
- Brimson Toimi Road/County Road 353 from Town Line Road/Highway 16 to Little Creek Road.
District 7 (Southwestern St. Louis County)
- County Road 202/203/Owl Avenue from County Road 980 to Arkola Road/Highway 52.
- Highway 29 north of Meadowlands.
- Creek Road/County Road 196 from approximately half-mile to 1 mile south of Highway 133.
- Stickney Road, approximately 1 mile north of Highway 52 near Meadowlands.
Other roads may have signs posted warning of water covering part of the road. In these instances, roads may be down to one lane, but are still considered passable. Roads will be reopened as they are determined safe, the county stated.
Anyone encountering unsafe road conditions should call 911 to report the location. Motorists are reminded to not drive through standing water as it can be unclear how deep it is. Also, there could be hazards hidden beneath the surface. People should stay vigilant and use caution near floodwaters, the county stated, and keep children and pets away from fast moving water.
