Official Finds Optimism on Flood Tour of Southeast Minnesota

A big concern after last summer’s flooding in southeast Minnesota was that the population in some small towns would evaporate, but officials say that’s not happening.

Senator Amy Klobuchar toured Goodview, Houston and Rushford to see how the flood recovery is going. Leaders in Houston and Goodview say they’ve had little population change since the flood.

That’s not to say there aren’t problems. Many people complained to Klobuchar of stacks of paperwork, looming deadlines to apply for aid, and conflicting rules between federal and state agencies.

66-year-old Roger Colbenson of Rushford told Klobuchar he’s now $220,000 in debt, and some people are in danger of foreclosure. He and others asked for help building rental and multi-unit housing.

Klobuchar says she felt a sense of optimism on her tour because so many people have chosen to stay.