Flood emergency in Duluth and northeast Minnesota
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DLH expires Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Carlton, St. Louis [MN] and Douglas [WI]by MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:14:30 PM
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RT @megganellingboe: RT @webertom1 NOTE: We'll have special programming at noon on @MPRnews on #Duluthflood, hosted by @cathywurzer.by Michael Olson via twitter 6/20/2012 4:15:17 PM
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DLH: Foxboro [Douglas Co, WI] spotter reports TSTM WND GST of E50 MPH at 11:14 AM CDT -- branches and limbs on the roadways. #MNstormsby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:20:57 PM
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Historic Duluth flood is biggest in at least 40 years, since 1972. St. Louis River approaching 62 year record from 1950. #MNstormsby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:23:30 PM
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RT @snaredrm: Duluth PD just initiated sandbagging one of the hospitals, per PD scanner. #duluth #mnstormsby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:23:58 PM
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Chris Bacigulpo shared this video of the entrance of the College of St. Scholastica flooding: www.youtube.com
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Statement on Facebook from the Lake Superior Zoo: "Thank you to all of our friends and zoo family for your support. What has happened at the zoo is extremely traumatic for our staff and animals. Our hearts are broken and we very much appreciate your kindness and compassion. It is our priority to keep you all appraised of the latest developments. We ask for your patience and continued support. We assure you we are continually working to maintain the safety and well-being of our beloved animals."
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Here are a few more pictures I took this morning. www.flickr.com
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Flood Warning for Sherburne and Stearns County in MN. #mnstorms #mnwxby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:30:10 PM
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Video of a rushing Tischer Creek this morning from Mickey Pearson: vimeo.com
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Flood Warning for Morrison County in MN. #mnstorms #mnwxby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:33:36 PM
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DLH: Esko [Carlton Co, MN] FLOOD at 11:35 AM CDT -- the midway river is flooding onto midway road...road is being washed out at this time.by MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:36:15 PM
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DLH: Duluth spotter reports FLOOD at 11:35 AM CDT -- at the corner of pacific ave and exeter st...the roadway is underwater. #MNstormsby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:39:03 PM
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DLH: 4 E Island Lake [St. Louis Co, MN] trained spotter reports HEAVY RAIN of M7.41 INCH at 11:30 AM CDT -- storm total. #MNstormsby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 4:54:22 PM
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RT @webertom1: Jim Hansen w/ Duluth PD just noted on @DailyCircuit that there are still no reports of injuries from #Duluthflood.by Michael Olson via twitter 6/20/2012 4:54:27 PM
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by Loudog13 via P.twimg 6/20/2012 8:11:28 PM
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From the Department of Public Safety:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2012
Health Officials Address Concerns in Wake of NE Minn. Flooding
Release #4
Minnesota residents in parts of northeastern Minnesota hit by flooding can take steps to safeguard their health, state health officials said.
People living in flooded areas are undergoing significant challenges right now,” said Aggie Leitheiser, assistant commissioner of health. “By taking certain precautions, they can protect themselves from flood–related illness or injury. Knowing what can and can’t hurt them is important.”
Here are some things to consider if you’re in a flooded area:
Well Contamination
People should assume their private well is contaminated if the well casing was under water. Well water should not be used for drinking or cooking until the well and distribution system are flushed out, disinfected and tested for contamination. Meanwhile, they should use bottled water for drinking and cooking.
If flood water came within 50 feet of the well, but the well was not under water, you may still want to have your water tested as a precaution. However, you do not need to disinfect your well before having it tested.
CO Poisoning
Never use generators, grills, or other gasoline-, propane-, or charcoal-burning devices indoors, inside your home, garage, carport; or near doors, windows, or vents. These items produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that kills more than 500 Americans each year.
Child Safety
To keep children safe:
Don't let them play in or near floodwater or in areas that have flooded recently.
Wash your child's hands frequently with clean water, especially before meals.
Discard any soft toys that may be contaminated with sewage. Young children may put these items into their mouths.
Disinfect other toys that may be contaminated by washing them with a solution of two teaspoons bleach in one gallon of water.
Food Safety Guidelines
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. Refrigerators will keep food cold for about four hours when left unopened.
A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
If the food stored in the refrigerator has been held above 41 degrees F for more than four hours, throw it away.
If food stored in the freezer has thawed but is still below 41 F, it can be refrozen. Although the quality of the food may be compromised, it should remain safe to eat.
Commercially canned foods in good condition are safe if you remove the labels. Wash sealed cans with warm water and detergent, and then disinfect them using a solution of one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of clean water. Re–label the cans so you know what is inside. Destroy canned goods if the can surface is badly rusted or pitted, swollen or leaking, or badly creased or dented at the rims or seams.
Rigid plastic containers without a screw top are safe if they are have not been damaged, the container has not been submerged in water or other liquids, any soil on the container can be removed, and the closure has no soil, rust or dents.
Foods that are packaged in paper, boxes, containers with screw-top lids, or other non-water-proof pages are not safe if they have come in contact with flood water. Throw them away.
“When it comes to food safety during a flood, always remember one basic rule,” Leitheiser said. “If in doubt, throw it out.”
Other Tips and Myths
Floodwater may be contaminated, but it is unlikely that simple skin contact — even with raw sewage — will make you sick. Generally, you must swallow floodwater, or something that’s been contaminated with floodwater, to get sick. Wash your hands with clean water before you eat, drink or put anything in your mouth.
There is currently no reason to believe that area residents face an increased risk of a disease outbreak. However, state and local public health officials are monitoring carefully for any cases of infectious illness that might be connected with the flooding to ensure that they respond quickly in the event of an outbreak.
Public health officials routinely recommend getting a tetanus shot every 10 years. The flooding is not a reason to get one right now or to get shots for typhoid, polio or any other vaccine–preventable disease. However, people who get puncture wounds should talk to their physicians if they have not had a tetanus shot within the last five years, no matter where or how they got hurt.
For more flood–related information, visit the MDH website at: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/emergency/natural/floods/index.html. -
RT @CarolynKirsch: I was 7 in 1972 when there was a #duluthflood, I think this time was a lot worse. Glad my daughter is safe and sound.by Michael Olson via twitter 6/20/2012 8:23:48 PM
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Flash Flood Warning for Dakota, Goodhue, and Rice County in MN until 9:30pm Wednesday. #mnstorms #mnwxby MPR Weather via twitter 6/20/2012 8:25:08 PM
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Photographer Derek Montgomery: A lot of people are talking about the storm of 1972 today. A lot of students are out of school, not going to work, so a lot of people are out with their cameras checking out what's happened. No one's seen this type of damage in the city for a long time.
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From MnDOT:
Current road closures include (last updated 6/20/2012, 3:20 p.m.):
London Road at 43rd Street
Interstate 35 between Hwy 210 and Mahtowa
I-35 from Central Avenue to 26th Avenue East/London Road in Duluth
Hwy 2 from I-35 to Boundary Avenue (downbound only, upbound is open) in Proctor
Hwy 2 from the Iron Horse Saloon to the Train
Hwy 23 south of Duluth
Hwy 23 in Fond Du Lac
Hwy 33 at milepost 9 near Independence
Hwy 61 near Silver Cliff Tunnel
Hwy 61 at Knife River
Hwy 200 between Hwy 2 and Hwy 65
Hwy 210 completely closed through Jay Cooke State Park
Hwy 73 closed at four locations --- reference posts 31.5, 46.3, and 47.4
Hwy 65 eight miles south of McGregor, from reference posts 107 to 112.6, closed under two feet of water
Hwy 2 between 220.7 through 232.0 completely closed
Hwy 73 and 27, west of Moose Lake at the exit, closed, under water
Midway Road (St. Louis County), at Midway River, closed
Numerous road shoulders are also washed out due to flooding.
Conditions are changing rapidly and all roads will remain closed until further notice.
Travel is not advised due to flooding until conditions improve and MnDOT crews can make progress to recover roadways.
Motorists should plan accordingly. When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.