Photo by Deb Gau, Marshall Independent two-shot: U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and Gov. Mark Dayton spoke to the press during a stop in Slayton on Friday morning. Murray County is one of 36 counties across the state included in a state of emergency for flooding and storm damage.

Special to The Journal

He traveled through areas affected by the swollen Des Moines River and Lake Shetek, and saw damage to fields and roads. As he was speaking to Lyon County officials and residents at the Balaton fire station, Gov. Mark Dayton summed it all up.

“We’ve seen a lot of water today — too much,” Dayton said.

Dayton said Minnesotans will get through the crisis together. However, he said, “It’s going to take some time . . . There’s no way around it.”

Dayton, together with U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Collin Peterson, and state legislators and officials, traveled through the region on Friday to assess recent flood damage. The group stopped to meet with area residents and county officials in Slayton, Walnut Grove and Balaton.

“We’re really here to listen,” Smith told an audience of about 50 people gathered at the Murray County Fairgrounds in Slayton. Hearing southwestern Minnesota residents’ concerns would be an important part of helping organize disaster response, she said.

Redwood, Murray and Lyon Counties were among the 36 counties included in a state of emergency Dayton declared Thursday. Around eight to 10 inches of rain fell in Murray County on Tuesday alone, on top of saturation from previous storms. Residents said Friday that high water levels are still cutting off access to homes and a Bible camp on islands in Lake Shetek.

Stories of flood damage were shared at all the stops on Dayton’s tour. Walnut Grove cancelled its Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant this weekend, due to flood damage at the performance venue. In the city of Tracy, around 75 to 80 percent of residents have been affected by flooding and sewage backup, said Tracy Mayor Pam Cooreman. In the city of Balaton, Mayor Del Rutz estimated the area had received around 25 inches of rain over the past month.

During Friday’s tour, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly and Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson talked a little about what the next steps would be for local governments, homeowners and farmers affected by this month’s heavy rains and flooding.

“There is a lot of tremendous work that’s been done during what we call the emergency response phase” of the flood events, Kelly said. However, the recovery phase will take longer, he said. In many areas, it won’t be possible to take full stock of the flood damage until water levels go down further.

“The best advice I have for you at this time is to record everything,” Kelly said. Keeping detailed records of flood damage will help in determining eligibility for federal disaster relief. “Take pictures. Write down maps. Take all the evidence you can, so to speak.”

Dayton said Minnesota will be seeking federal disaster assistance in response to flooding and storms this month. Frederickson said farmers in the area covered by the state of emergency can also apply for zero-interest loans from the Minnesota Rural Finance Authority.

Murray County residents told Dayton they were concerned about the cost of cleaning up after the flood. Vern Carlson, a supervisor of Lake Sarah Township in Murray County, said it would likely take more money than the township has in order to repair washed-out roads.

Other area residents said they needed to be ready to prevent future floods.

“What we need are (water) retention areas,” said Francis Timmerman, one of the residents gathered at the Balaton meeting.

Eugene Swanson, a supervisor for North Hero Township near Walnut Grove, also called for state bonding to fund water retention projects on Plum Creek.

“We need to stop the water upstream,” Swanson said. After this week’s storms, Swanson said, “Plum Creek was the worst I’ve ever seen it flood.”

Dayton said he would be visiting other parts of southern Minnesota, including Windom and Jackson, next week.