The Murray County Commissioners met in special session on Friday, September 13th. Justin Koch, Murray County Emergency Management Services Director, appeared before the board stating based on the information he had received from different townships and the Murray County Highway Department, he suggested the Murray County Commissioners declare a state of emergency. He estimated the damages are in the range of $50,000 to $70,000. He couldn’t give a definative amount due to the receeding water. The amount was based off of township and highway reports Koch had received. Damage thresehold required for a state of emergency is $16,450 of which Murray County will well exceed that amount.
Commissioner Welgraven made the motion to declare the ‘State of Emergency’ with Commissioner Kluis seconding.
Storms moved across southwest Minnesota Tuesday and Wednesday nights dumping from six to eight inches of total rainfall over the two-day course. Avoca recordly received nearly 11 inches of rain.
The heavy rain has once again caused rivers to swell out of their banks and creeks to rise over roads across Murray County. Numerous road closures were reported across the county. Highway 30 between Dovray and Westbrook was closed to traffic on Thursday and Friday. Flooding also forced the road closure of Highway 91 near Chandler along with an area west of Lake Wilson.
Officials took to the airways and facebook to remind motorists to go around road blocks for their safety.
