The city of Cook faces flooding problems, while the county of St. Louis declares a state of local disaster

St. Louis County officials

Gov. Tim Walz will go to the Iron Range on Friday to survey the damage.

Flooding is causing people to evacuate their homes until further notice and first responders are stretched thin and overwhelmed.

“It just kept coming and going up and going up and going up and we’re just like, ‘Where is this going to end?'” said Steven Kajala, who works at Cook.

Kajala was stuck at work on Wednesday when a river was forming outside his window.

His office is in downtown Cook on River Street.

The Little Fork River is overflowing causing road closures and extensive damage.

“Small businesses that have merchandise in there that they couldn’t get out in time and people that had to leave their homes without the ability to put everything up and dry,” Kajala said.

Cook officials said floodwaters are rising through the stormwater system and it will take several days for water levels to recede.

St. John’s County Rescue Squad.

The St. Louis County Board Louis called an emergency meeting declaring a state of local disaster.

Board leaders explained that it’s hard to assess damage when they can’t see it.

“What’s been most impressive to me is how people are coming together to work whether it’s volunteer fire departments coming to help or neighbors helping out with wet basements,” the St. Louis County Sheriff said at a meeting. Louis, Gordon Ramsay.

Natural disasters often find their way to St. Louis County. Louis, but residents won’t have to deal with the consequences alone.

“Cook is a very generous town if there are people who need a hand, people will help them,” Kajala said.

County leaders said another 2-3 inches of rain this weekend could make matters worse.

Red Cross officials said they are distributing water in Cook and Biwabik and shelter teams are on standby.

Residents are asked not to travel to areas where they see flood waters. It is dangerous and can be a threat to your health and safety.

Further north, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, there is concern about dozens of roads eroded by flooding.

The US Forest Service is now closing at least eight points of entry into the Boundary Waters. These closures may last through the weekend and beyond.

“And the water is now running out, basically overwhelming the canals,” says Timothy Engrav, with the US Forest Service, Superior National Forest. “We have canceled the permits in those locations. We are recommending that visitors stay away from them and we are asking for patience as we wait for some of these waters to hopefully recede.”

A full list of closed roads, campsites and access points is available here.