State and Federal Officials to Assess Flood Damage

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management received word on Friday, April 10, 2009 that the State of Minnesota Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (HSEM) will be sending representatives to Bemidji on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 to inspect flood damages to public infrastructure. Townships, cities and towns should have their spokespersons available should there be questions. A list of all damaged roads, as well as incurred and projected costs for repairs should be emailed or called to Beryl Wernberg, Emergency Management Director, at beryl.wernberg@co.beltrami.mn.us or 218-333-8320 as soon as possible. For those of you who have already sent this information please disregard unless you have changes.

We will be taking the HSEM folks on a tour of our county. Wernberg does have a number of photos which were supplied to us, free of charge, from the Civil Air Patrol who did a flyover of our county. However, it is necessary to update our list of roads that are still marked as caution as well as closed in order for FEMA to have correct documentation.

In addition, for the residents of our county who suffered damages to their homes, you need to call or email or mail Wernberg with your current list of costs incurred and projected repairs as soon as possible. Next week we will be sponsoring a workshop for homeowners to come to the Law Enforcement Center and discuss the levels of damage. This is required by FEMA. More on that coming next week.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Beryl Wernberg, Emergency Management Director
Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office
613 Minnesota Ave NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
218-333-8320 or 218-333-8386
beryl.wernberg@co.beltrami.mn.us