Klobuchar, Franken, Walz Announce Over $1.4 Million to Help Prevent Future Flood Damage in Zumbro Falls
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Representative Tim Walz today announced over $1.4 million to help prevent future flood damage in Zumbro Falls. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Program through the Department of Homeland Security.
“The flooding in Zumbro Falls caused extensive damage and took a heavy toll on residents and businesses,” Klobuchar said. “With this support, Zumbro Falls can take the necessary steps to prepare for and prevent future flood damage.”
“The havoc wreaked on Zumbro Falls by the flooding in September 2010 devastated the community and turned people’s lives upside down,” said Sen. Franken. “I’m hopeful that this $2 million mitigation grant from FEMA will help get people back on their feet and prevent future flooding and damages to residents and business owners.”
“We need to make sure our communities have the resources to prevent future flooding and to recover from the heavy flooding Zumbro Falls experienced last year. These resources from FEMA will help us do just that,” said Walz. “We cannot control the weather, but we can control how prepared we are and how quickly we get back on our feet.”
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is administered by state and local communities and is designed to purchase property to reduce risk in the event of a future disaster. In Zumbro Falls, the funds will help support the acquisition of fifteen flood-prone properties that were substantially damaged from flooding during the September 2010 flood. Acquiring this land will establish a permanent open space in the area, which will result in a reduction of damages and lessen the impact of flooding to the local community.
Klobuchar, Franken and Walz wrote a letter urging the declaration of Presidential Emergency which provides for the eligibility of hazard mitigation funds. Klobuchar also visited Zumbro Falls following the September 2010 flood and worked closely with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Director Craig Fugate throughout the disaster relief process.
