REGIONAL- The flood-stricken communities of Crane Lake and Kabetogama had a new reason for hope last weekend when the inflow of water creating historic rises in lake levels finally fell below the amount of water flowing out of the Namakan basin.
The peak blew past the highest recorded levels in 2014 by 21 inches, but thankfully fell seven inches short of the all-time high in 1916, according to the National Weather Service Duluth office. Lake levels could fall anywhere from six to twelve inches by Monday.
The flurry of emergency activity has been shifting to Rainy Lake, which was already two inches higher than its previous record set in 1950, a year somewhat similar to this with early heavy rains falling on snowpack and ice and a late ice out. Rainy Lake is also 21 inches higher than in 2014, and the rise is expected to continue into mid-June, although at a slower pace.
Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith visited International Falls over the weekend to receive a briefing and tour flood damage. Last week Walz extended the National Guard deployment to the Rainy River basin until the emergency conditions subside or June 30, whichever occurs first.
But Crane Lake and Kabetogama are far from finished with the flooding, even with dry conditions forecast for the week and weather service officials note it will potentially take weeks to see normal summertime water levels.
Perhaps the biggest continuing danger to lakefront properties is the potential for wave damage to sandbag barriers and structures. Local resorts have been reminding their patrons to observe the “no wake” rule within 300 feet of shorelines, and some are providing maps illustrating the most flood-friendly route and no-wake zones.
Reports of runaway docks, boats, deck furniture and more are still being regularly posted to regional social media groups, but calls for assistance filling sandbags in Crane Lake and Kabetogama have dwindled significantly this past week.
Damage assessments
Meanwhile, steps are underway to estimate the amount of damage from various severe weather events in order to possibly apply for federal emergency disaster assistance. Since April 22, the state has been impacted by ongoing severe spring weather including snowmelt flooding, rain-induced flooding, and a near continuous series of severe thunderstorms with heavy rains, flash flooding, damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. The Red River and several major rivers and lakes in the Rainy River basin remain above major flood stage.
Teams from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management division (DPS-HSEM) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began their third week of preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) across the state on Tuesday. They will verify eligible costs for severe weather damage to public infrastructure and public response sustained since April 22.
The teams will review the scope of the severe weather damage, determine if it exceeds local and state resources, and include repair cost estimates. Much of the damage related to flooding in the Rainy River basin will be difficult to assess as it is still under water.
Based on local initial damage assessments, HSEM projects the eligible damage expense will exceed $27 million which is nearly three times more than Minnesota’s statewide indicator for public assistance of $9.3 million.
Once the assessments are completed and it is determined that Minnesota would be eligible, Gov. Tim Walz would then need to send a letter to President Joe Biden through FEMA to request assistance. Only the president can make a federal disaster declaration.