Mr. Dahle Goes to St. Paul

Northfield and several communities in Southern Minnesota experienced unprecedented flooding due to the heavy rains this past weekend. So many community members, college and high school students and staff, shop owners and neighbors, joined together to help where needed. Sandbagging, distributing food and water, moving furniture and goods… a real lesson in civic participation …people coming together to do their best to hold off Mother Nature. Unfortunately, the river found its way over and around many of the man-made barriers, creating its own path to the Mississippi river leaving several homes and businesses in ruins. The National Guard stepped in early and stayed through much of the cleanup…which continues. City councils, homeowners, and business owners are assessing the needs and deciding what the next step will be. Cities and counties have been declared disaster areas. FEMA is assessing the damages in homes and businesses town by town. Governor Pawlenty has called for a special session to be held sometime around October 7-12. We will do our best, appropriating federal and state funds, to help our citizens and communities get back on their feet.