Franken Announces Roseau Officials Will Use Disaster Expertise To Help Wadena's Tornado Recovery

Press Release

Al Franken (D-Minn) said officials from the northern Minnesota City of Roseau have agreed to his request to lend their disaster-relief expertise - developed after the 2002 Roseau flood - to help Wadena recover from last week's tornado. The Senator said it is an example of how volunteers from dozens of Minnesota communities have come to Wadena's aid.

On Monday, Sen. Franken's office made the request of Roseau Mayor Jeff Pelowski, who led his city through several years of flood recovery efforts after rising waters from the Roseau River damaged homes, downtown businesses, public infrastructure, and farms in and around the Roseau area. Pelowski agreed to Sen. Franken's request and sent two key city officials with extensive disaster recovery experience to Wadena Tuesday, including Roseau's Community Development Coordinator, who also served as the city's Flood Recovery Director, and the City Superintendent.

State and federal officials are still assessing the extent of the tornado damage in Wadena, which severely damaged homes, buildings and property, including the Wadena High School, and the city's community center. Sen. Franken's staff has also been in Wadena to help the city prepare for the recovery effort.

"Recovering from these types of disasters can be a very long, difficult and complicated process, with a myriad of federal, state and local agencies involved," Sen. Franken said. "Roseau went through a devastating flood and has rebuilt the community. That experience that can be very useful to Wadena. In Minnesota, we help each other, and I am very pleased that Roseau is willing to use its hard-won disaster expertise to help another Minnesota city in its time of need."

"If we can help, we're glad to do so," Pelowski said. "We've been through this process and had to ask for outside assistance ourselves, so if our expertise can help Wadena, we will be there to help."

Sen. Franken reached out to Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden last week after the tornado to offer his office's assistance in the recovery efforts. On Monday, Sen. Franken's staff was in Wadena and notified Wolden of Roseau's willingness to help.

"Wadena is now in a very unique fraternity of those communities touched by disaster," said Wolden. "I appreciate Mayor Pelowski offering the expertise of Roseau's staff as we move forward in our recovery.

Sen. Franken said that the outpouring of volunteers on the ground to help Wadena since the June 17 tornado has been gratifying. At least 38 law enforcement agencies, and volunteers from 38 community fire departments, as well as several municipal utility workers from other communities have helped out.

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