Virginia City Council declares local state of emergency

The Virginia City Council held an emergency meeting Thursday morning, June 20, where they declared a local state of emergency. The state of emergency was declared following significant damage caused by heavy rainfall earlier in the week.

The declaration read as follows:

WHEREAS, the City of Virginia, Minnesota has sustained severe losses of a major proportion, brought on by high amounts of damage from recent rainfall on the date of June 18-19, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the City of Virginia is a public entity within the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, the following conditions exist in the City of Virginia, MN as a result of the disaster:
Extensive damage to residential properties due to flooding of storm sewers
Extensive damage to commercial properties due to flooding of storm sewers
Extensive damage to residential properties due to flooding of sanitary sewers
Extensive damage to commercial properties due to flooding of sanitary sewers
Substantial damage to City Infrastructure including waterways and ditches

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Virginia, acting on behalf of and for the people of City, declare that a state of emergency exists within City, with all the powers and responsibilities attending thereto as provided by Chapter 12 of Minnesota Statutes.

The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners will also be meeting Thursday morning to conduct an emergency meeting to determine if they will declare a State of Local disaster.