Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Gordon Ramsay
Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 15, 2024
Media Contact: Josh Brinkman
Emergency Management Coordinator
(218) 625-3966 or brinkmanj@stlouiscountymn.gov
New in-person assistance available for St. Louis County residents and business owners affected by June flood
St. Louis County residents and business owners who sustained damage during severe storms and flooding that occurred June 16 through July 4 can now get in-person help with navigating the process of applying for federal assistance. FEMA is opening a Disaster Recovery Center beginning Friday, August 15, operating out of the St. Louis County Public Works facility in Virginia, 7823 Highway 135. The Disaster Recovery Center will be open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with all appointments on a first come, first served basis.
It will be staffed by FEMA representatives, as well as the state of Minnesota and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). People will be able to get help applying for federal disaster assistance, upload documents, get their questions answered in person, access other types of help that may be available and learn ways to make their property more disaster resistant.
"Having a physical location for people to get help from trained professionals is a great resource for our residents," said Commissioner Paul McDonald, whose district was hardest hit by the June 18 storm. "Having all three agencies in one place is especially helpful because it functions like a triage. For instance, a person may not be eligible for a particular type of assistance but can immediately be referred to other programs for which they do qualify."
St. Louis County is providing use of the Public Works Training Room for the Disaster Recovery Center at no charge.
Federal financial assistance is available for eligible homeowners and renters in the form of grants to cover costs of temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.
Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened a Business Recovery Center in St. Louis County earlier this week at the Cook Fire/Ambulance Hall, 111 Second Street Southeast in Cook. The Business Recovery Center is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SBA staff at the Business Recovery Center will help business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-in appointments are available on a first come, first served basis, or people can schedule an in-person appointment through the SBA website at appointment.sba.gov.
Both of the staffed sites will remain open until further notice. Federal financial assistance is available to private property owners because the June flood event is now a Presidentially Declared Disaster.
 FEMA is opening a Disaster Recovery Center to help residents affected by the June flood. The Center will operate out of the St. Louis County Public Works facility in Virginia beginning Aug. 16, and will be open seven days a week.
 Representatives from FEMA, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the State of Minnesota are finalizing set up inside the Training Room at the St. Louis County Public Works facility in Virginia. The Disaster Recovery Center opens Friday to provide in-person assistance for flood survivors applying for federal help.
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