MINNESOTA, USA — Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency to authorize the Minnesota National Guard to assist with emergency flood operations across the state on Saturday.
The state received a request for national guard assistance from the Le Sueur County Sheriff for logistics and operations support, according to a release.
“Across the state, intense rain has had catastrophic effects. Flooding has left entire communities under feet of water, causing severe damage to property and numerous road closures. As flooding continues, the National Guard is ready to step up to help our neighbors,” said Governor Walz, in a release.
The authorization comes as the City of Waterville and surrounding communities experienced roughly 14-18 inches of rainfall, with both the Tetonka and Sakatah Lakes having reached uncontrollable levels, according to the governor's office.
"Waterville city staff, Le Sueur County Emergency Management, the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, and volunteers have been working for several days to mitigate the effects of the severe weather. Continuously rising water levels following additional weekend rainfall has necessitated additional manpower and resources," said the statement.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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