Walz authorizes assistance for storm cleanup in 6 Minnesota counties

ST. PAUL — Gov. Tim Walz authorized emergency assistance for six Minnesota counties, including Beltrami, Aitkin and Crow Wing counties, that sustained damage caused by severe weather this summer.

Tornadoes caused significant damage in Aitkin and Crow Wing counties on June 12. Beltrami experienced significant damage in the city of Bemidji caused by severe storms in late July and early August.

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“Minnesota’s emergency management team has been coordinating closely with counties to assess damage from severe weather this summer,” Walz stated in a Sept. 19 news release. “We’ll continue working to get communities the resources they need to recover.”

The news release states that as climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, impacts to outdated infrastructure and roadways have caused millions of dollars in damages statewide.

Collaborative emergency planning at all levels of government and investments in infrastructure are critical to safeguarding against future damage, according to officials.