Dear Friends, As I have been out and around our local communities, I am saddened to see all of the flooding in both the cities and farmland. Brennan Lee from neighboring Hartland took an amazing drone photo of Albert Lea the other day that shows the great scope of this flood. I know other local communities have been significantly impacted as well.  It is very heartbreaking to see the flood damage to homes, businesses, and farms. The Minnesota Department of Commerce offers Minnesotans guidance on steps to take when filing an insurance claim after storms damage their home, business or other property from the storms and flooding that has occurred in the past 48 hours. Here are some tips it provides when a disaster strikes: Key tips for filing insurance claims to your property: - Contact your insurance company immediately.
- Wait for the company’s adjuster before you or anyone starts working to remove or repair or replace property.
- Inventory your damage.
- Take notes of who you talk with and what they say from your insurance company, adjusters or repair services. Note dates, names and contact information.
- Avoid scammers or high-pressure sales tactics if you are contacted by someone you don’t know, such as salespeople going door-to-door in areas hit by storms.
Question or complaint about your insurance company? If you have questions, complaints or problems with your insurance company, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Consumer Services Center: - By phone: 651-539-1600 or 800-657-3602
- By email: protection@state.mn.us.
From a legislative standpoint, every two years the state puts money into a disaster relief account that can be distributed without the legislature needing to meet in session, and I expect that account is going to see use very soon. If you are a storm victim and have any questions, please contact my office at rep.peggy.bennett@house.mn.gov or 651-296-8216 and I’d be glad to assist you. OUT AND ABOUT With session over, I have found it very refreshing to get out and around to our local communities. Just this past week or so, I had the opportunity to give a legislative update for the Golden Kiwanis group in Albert Lea, and enjoyed chatting with people at the pie and ice cream social and parade during Morin Lake Days in Alden. On Friday, Hawken and I had fun helping raise money for the Freeborn County Humane Society with their Buckets on Broadway fundraiser.  Thank you to all who stopped to donate. Thank you also to the Freeborn County Humane Society. They do amazing work taking care of and placing adoptable animals into responsible homes.  Talk to you soon, Peggy |