Minnesota Congressional delegation visits Arrowhead

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(Duluth, MN) -- Senators Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar and Representative Chip Cravaack are getting a firsthand look today at flood damage in the Duluth area.

Franken says the first step is the damage assessment and then getting different agencies in to help. Franken plans to call President Obama to try to expedite the recovery process. He says he's grateful there has not been any loss of human life in the northeastern Minnesota flooding.

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Water levels are dropping around Duluth but officials are still asking people to stay away from running water. State Emergency Management Director Kris Eide says the current is still very powerful and they don't want anybody to get hurt. The St. Louis River is still at record levels as it flows into Lake Superior, more than five-feet over flood stage. That's nearly a foot lower than it was when it crested yesterday.

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Many homeowners in northeastern Minnesota are wishing they had flood insurance. FEMA statistics show 329 homeowners in St. Louis County purchased flood insurance this year and there are only 17 policyholders in Carlton County. Those without coverage will not be able to get it for this historic flood because it takes 30 days after purchase for flood insurance to kick in. Less than one-percent of Minnesotans have flood insurance and the average cost is 663-dollars per year. It costs much more for homeowners in flood-prone areas.

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