Recovery center open to flood victims

Home and business owners struggling to clean up after the floods that swept the region last month can seek assistance this week at a Disaster Recovery Center in Mazeppa.

Counseling services and low interest loans for eligible property owners from the Small Business Association will be available at the center, located at the Mazeppa Community Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday through Monday.

Floodwaters last month damaged 19 homes in Goodhue County and 155 homes in Wabasha County, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Of those homeowners, 37 percent in Goodhue County carried flood insurance, while 23 percent in Wabasha County were insured against flood damage.

Aid workers say funding for home business repairs is available, but suffered a setback this week after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied a request for individual assistance to homeowners.

"Individuals don't have that option now," said Goodhue County Emergency Management Director Diane Richter-Biwer.

An $80 million flood relief bill expected to clear the state legislature Monday would include a $4 million in zero interest loans to flood-affected homeowners under the Quick Start program.

The United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha and Pierce Counties is also raising funds to assist home and business owners in rebuilding efforts.

"We're hoping for that to fill any gap left over," said executive director Meg Walch.

Tags: goodhue county, floods, news, weather