Stevens County seeks federal aid after heavy June–July storms; emergency teams continue damage assessments

Stevens County Emergency Management reported that the governor issued a disaster declaration covering Stevens, Cottonwood and Granville counties after storms and heavy rainfall in June and July, and county staff are continuing damage assessments and outreach to affected residents.

Donna, Stevens County emergency management director, told the board the county’s preliminary damage assessment (PDA) from the June events totaled $276,065 and that public infrastructure damage estimates — separate from private homes and businesses — are currently around $800,000. Donna said the county has now recorded more than 15 inches of rain in the most affected areas this season.

Why it matters: The county is working to meet state and federal damage thresholds that unlock additional assistance. Donna said the county needs to identify at least 25 homes with major damage to qualify for a Small Business Administration (SBA) individual assistance assessment and that major damage is being measured at roughly 3% of a home’s value.

County staff are coordinating several responses. A Homeland Security PDA meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Emergency Operations Center the day after the board meeting; Donna said that if the PDA meets the federal/state guidelines the county board chair will sign a letter to the governor requesting state assistance. She asked homeowners and business owners with damage to complete the county’s survey link under “Flood Resources” on the county website; she said about 50 households had submitted information through that survey and another five to six families had been added via Human Services intake.

Donna described resources and needs: the county has about 50 cleanup kits available, and residents with major life-safety or mold concerns are being referred to the Red Cross and Salvation Army for immediate help. She emphasized concerns about remediation quality and mold growth in basements and said public health and environmental cleanup contact lists will be mailed to affected residents. For people who cannot reach the web form, staff are relying on local media, radio, city clerks and mailings to notify residents, and Donna provided a county contact number for questions: (320) 208-6507.

Communications and infrastructure impacts: Donna briefed the board on two recent BNSF train incidents in the county that released diesel fuel; she said neither event required population-level hazardous-material alerts but one blocked a highway while a crane was recovered. She also described ongoing work on the county’s ARMOR radio system: 25 radios have shown signs of failing or needing repair, two tower antennas were replaced after storm damage, coaxial cable was replaced, and the county expects a 75% reimbursement level for certain antenna and coax costs under ARMOR-related funding.

Longer-term preparedness: Donna reminded the board the county’s hazard mitigation plan expires on June 17, 2027. She said prior updates were largely in-kind work by county staff and that a full update previously had grant funding; that grant funding is currently on hold, and the county estimates a cash cost of roughly $89,000 to complete the update if it cannot secure state or federal grant support. Donna said the county will pursue available grant options and will provide a further update after the scheduled PDA meeting.

The board did not take a formal vote on assistance at the meeting; Donna asked that residents and businesses with damage complete the county survey and noted staff will continue outreach and coordination with state and federal partners.