ZUMBRO FALLS, Minn.- Minnesota Governer Tim Pawlenty and other state leaders were touring the damage from flooding in Southern Minnesota Sunday.
Pawlenty traveled to the Zumbro Falls area. People who live there were allowed only limited visits to retrieve their belongings before the National Guard forced them to leave once again.
Meanwhile, US Senator Amy Klobuchar visited Owatonna, Faribault, and Pine Island.
She's promising to help secure assistance from the federal emergency management agency.
Pawlenty is asking FEMA to conduct preliminary damage assessments. He says they will start Monday.
Pawlenty plans to meet with state legislator’s tomorrow morning to discuss a possible special session to discuss flooding in the area.
Rivers and streams across the state continue to rise as a result of the flooding in Southern Minnesota.
In places like Mankato, highway 169 is cut off to the town of Henderson. An 11 mile stretch is also closed from Saint Peter to Le Sueur because of the high water.
In Owatonna, building inspectors will be checking out homes and business to determine if they are structurally sound.
A bridge just north of Rochester destroyed by floodwaters appears to be getting worse.
The Olmsted County Sheriff's Department is moving barricades back further from the Minnesota Avenue/County Road 18 Bridge
Water pouring through an open dam was powerful enough to rip apart the structure. The swollen Zumbro River carved away the northern approach from the span.
Until the bridge is repaired or replaced, drivers will have to travel five miles out of their way.
East Main Street in Albert Lea remained closed Sunday.
The channel from Fountain Lake to Albert Lea Lake is overflowing across the roadway.
It's causing some headaches for drivers and business owners along the stretch as they work to find alternate ways around.
There's no word on how long the roads will remain closed, but it could take some time for the lake level to drop.
You can find the latest emergency information by clicking on the link on the right side of this article.
