Owners of flood-imperiled Rapidan Dam Store vow to reopen; community rallies to support family
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Friends and neighbors are rallying to support the longtime owners of the Rapidan Dam Store near Mankato, after flooding along the Blue Earth River claimed a family home adjacent to the business.
The owners of the store vowed to reopen — in some form — once it’s safe to do so.
The rain-swollen river has carved an increasingly large channel around the Rapidan Dam. That erosion toppled the home belonging to the Hruska family on Tuesday night.
Further erosion could threaten the family’s store and a nearby county highway bridge.
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As county, state and federal officials monitor the dam and bridge, the owners of the store shared an update Wednesday night on Facebook.
“We don’t know what will happen. Minute by minute has been playing out right in front of our eyes and it’s hard to experience,” they posted on the Rapidan Dam Store Facebook page. “The Dam Store has not sold its last burger or sold its last slice of pie. When it is safe for all, we will be open in some way or shape.”
Online fundraisers are underway to support the family, with one noting that the family was told their insurance would not cover the loss of the home.
At a news conference late Wednesday afternoon, Hruska family friend Louise Henderson spoke on their behalf.
“The outpour of support has been phenomenal and overwhelming. And it continues to pour in — it is truly a blessing to live in an area that supports each other,” she said. The news conference was broadcast by KEYC-TV.
The Hruska family didn’t speak at the news conference, Henderson said, as they take time to process the “tremendous loss and devastation” of this week. She said they’re grateful to county officials, law enforcement and Xcel Energy for their efforts to keep people safe.
In the Facebook post later in the evening, the family thanked people for their help.
“The support is felt by us all. It is appreciated beyond measure,” they wrote.
The Rapidan Dam Store dates back more than a century. Jim Hruska bought it in 1972, and he and his family have run it ever since.
Just upstream from the store and the dam, the County Highway 9 bridge spans the Blue Earth River.
Blue Earth County Administrator Robert Meyer said at Wednesday’s news conference that officials are monitoring the bridge, and how it potentially could be affected by the new river channel. He noted that the channel has “continued to cut wider and deeper” after claiming the house on Tuesday night.
“The concerns are that the erosion could impact the piers supporting the bridge, and that could impact the structural integrity of the bridge. And so we’re continuing to explore mitigation options to ensure that the bridge remains, as well as the dam,” he said.
Meyer said that as of late Wednesday, officials had not found any parts of the span that were compromised. The bridge is closed to traffic.
In an update Thursday morning, county officials said the dam and bridge remained stable — but the volume and velocity of water moving through the channel was hindering any efforts to mitigate erosion.
Authorities also said crews removed a park pavilion near the dam on Thursday, to prevent additional debris from entering the river if the erosion continues.
To the east of Mankato, Minnesota National Guard soldiers continue to help with flood fight and recovery efforts in the city of Waterville. They’re helping run industrial pumps to move flood water from low-lying areas.
To the west, the Des Moines River was slowly falling Thursday amid ongoing flooding in Windom and Jackson.
State officials ask for federal disaster declaration
Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday said he has sent a preliminary request for a federal disaster declaration to President Joe Biden to address flooding across the state.
That includes flooding in both northern and southern Minnesota over the past week.
In his letter to Biden, Walz wrote: “The potential small business assistance, individual assistance and support for farmers on top of the public infrastructure assistance that comes with a federal disaster is what Minnesota needs right now.”
Walz also noted that the flooding — including damage and closures of some state parks and trails — could have a significant effect on tourism.
Walz sent the request to Biden on Wednesday evening. When the two spoke earlier, Biden stressed that federal emergency management officials were already involved and that his administration stood ready to provide additional support.
Minnesota’s Executive Council — which includes Walz — also voted Thursday to extend the governor’s peacetime emergency from five to 30 days.
The extension allows the Minnesota National Guard and other emergency entities to help with flood response and cleanup.
“We have 42 counties that have flood damage, or have been impacted by floods and storm. Fourteen have declared disasters that are active right now in those counties, so we’re still continuing to assist and uplift them,” said Bob Jacobson, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
The Executive Council includes the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor.
Road closure updates
The Minnesota Department of Transportation said one of two stretches of U.S. Highway 169 closed due to flooding along the Minnesota River reopened Thursday morning.
The closures have forced traffic from the busy four-lane highway to use a detour on two-lane county and state roads.
MnDOT said the highway between Mankato and St. Peter is now back open — though water is still encroaching on the road and the agency advised that drivers “should watch for wildlife near the roadways that was displaced by the flooding.”
Highway 169 remains closed to the north, between St. Peter and Le Sueur. Numerous river crossings are also closed.
To the west, State Highway 60 remains closed between Worthington and Windom. U.S. Highway 71 is closed in Jackson. Find updates on road closures at MnDOT’s 511 site.
In the Twin Cities, a stretch of Shepard and Warner roads along the Mississippi River near downtown St. Paul also remains closed as water levels rise.