WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) sent a letter to the Biden administration in support of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians’ request for a Major Disaster Declaration to assist them in recovering from severe summer storms. The storms produced two tornados and resulted in significant damage to households and tribal government buildings.

“The Red Lake Tribal Council has determined that the damage caused by these weather events is beyond the capacity of the tribe to address on their own,” the senators wrote. “The Red Lake Nation has estimated the costs of debris cleanup, home repairs, and replacement of tribal buildings and vehicles to be almost $7 million.”

The senators highlighted the housing shortage the Red Lake Nation is experiencing, noting: “The Red Lake Nation currently reports a housing shortage of 20 percent among their 9,000 members and with winter rapidly approaching in northern Minnesota, repairing households that were damaged in the storm is a critically urgent need.”

“It is for these reasons that we strongly encourage you to issue a disaster declaration in a timely manner. We are confident that the Red Lake Nation will recover and rebuild, but we urge you to make the federal government a full partner in that effort,” they concluded.

Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.

Dear Mr. President:

We write to you in support of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians’ request for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act to assist them in recovering from severe summer storms that produced two tornados and resulted in significant damage to households and tribal government buildings. We urge you to approve their request for federal disaster assistance in a timely manner.

On July 26, 2021, a supercell thunderstorm producing two F-1 tornados hit the Red Lake Nation in northwestern Minnesota. These tornados created considerable storm debris, blew out windows, impaired household siding and roofing, and damaged tribal buildings and vehicles. No tornado warnings were issued for the rapidly developing storm, leaving many tribal members with little time to find shelter or prepare for impacts.

The Red Lake Tribal Council has determined that the damage caused by these weather events is beyond the capacity of the tribe to address on their own. The Red Lake Nation has estimated the costs of debris cleanup, home repairs, and replacement of tribal buildings and vehicles to be almost $7 million. Tribal Chairman Darrell Seki Sr. issued a Red Lake Nation Emergency Disaster Declaration and has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual, Public, and Hazard Mitigation Assistance. 

The Red Lake Nation currently reports a housing shortage of 20 percent among their 9,000 members and with winter rapidly approaching in northern Minnesota, repairing households that were damaged in the storm is a critically urgent need. 

It is for these reasons that we strongly encourage you to issue a disaster declaration in a timely manner. We are confident that the Red Lake Nation will recover and rebuild, but we urge you to make the federal government a full partner in that effort.

Thank you for your attention to this request, and we look forward to working with you to assist in the recovery efforts. 

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