Flood Estimates Rise in Minnesota; South Dakota Storms Damage 18 Homes

Estimates of flood damage from last week’s flood are rising in Waseca, Minnesota, officials say, and in neighboring South Dakota weekend storms damaged homes in the Oglala area.

In Minnesota, Waseca County’s emergency management director, Nancy Lageson, said the county’s assessment has doubled since the heavy rain that fell last week, with at least 75 percent of the homes in the area damaged by flooding.

A line nearly 200 yards long of trucks and cars filled with wet carpets, furniture and waterlogged TVs and appliances was lined up on Sept. 26 at the city’s debris dump site.

John McGuire was hauling a trailer with carpet and furniture and was making his fifth trip to the dump, with more to come. He said his family had 10 inches of water in their basement.

In South Dakota, storms over the weekend damaged 18 homes. The American Red Cross says most of the homes suffered minor damage to roofs, windows and siding, but four homes were deemed too damaged to be occupied. Those families are getting help with lodging.

Red Cross regional director Richard Smith says the agency is continuing to monitor the situation with Oglala Sioux emergency management officials.