March 27, 2013
Dear Resident,
Wet soil conditions, along with heavy snowfall this winter could lead to flooding in your area. It’s good to be prepared. The City of Sartell will do its best to be ready, and we hope you too can prepare for potential flooding so that any damage can be minimized. We’ve included in this letter a few tips on how you can plan for flooding. We also wanted to let you know what the City of Sartell is doing to better respond to flooding.
The city has experienced minor flooding in the past few years which has taught us valuable lessons. The city is updating its emergency response plan and has enhanced working relationships with neighboring cities along with Stearns and Benton County Emergency Management.
So what can you do as a resident to prepare for possible flooding? Here are a few ideas:
- Contact your insurance company about purchasing flood insurance. This type of insurance doesn’t become effective until 30 days after purchase;
- If possible, have sandbagging equipment and supplies ready;
- If your home may need sandbagging, you will also need a pump to remove water that will seep in;
- Organize volunteers now who can help sandbag your house;
- Locate alternate storage for your valuables;
- If you have a basement, remove or relocate all paints, solvents, fuel oil tanks or other contaminants;
- If necessary, plan another location to stay if your home is damaged;
- Know how to shut off the main power breaker, main gas supply and main water valve.
Please be aware that if your home does incur flood damage, the city Building Inspector’s Office will conduct a damage assessment of your home, which would include the interior and exterior. The assessment report will determine if your home is habitable or uninhabitable. Regardless of what the inspector may deem your property, we want you to know that your safety is of the utmost importance to them.
In the event of flooding, the City of Sartell will assist, if needed, in organizing volunteers to help with sandbagging. The city will make available for purchase bags, sand and delivery of the items while available. Sand must be placed on the property of the property/home owner, not in the street or alleyway. Removal of those items after delivery is the responsibility of the property/home owner in an approved manner. The city can’t guarantee, however, that it can provide enough volunteers and resources to fully address all needs. That’s why personal preparedness is so important.
Enclosed you will find:
-Cost sheet for sand, bags, plastic for the dike and delivery by the City of Sartell
-Flood plain map of the city
-US Army Corps of Engineers sandbag information
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Emergency Management Director/Police Chief Jim Hughes at 251-8186 or Deputy Emergency Management Director/Fire Marshal Butch Rieland at 253-2171. You may also check out the Stearns County Emergency Management website for further information on flooding. That website is:
Sincerely,
Jim Hughes
Emergency Management Director/Police Chief