This causes problems for Whiskey River owner Bill Wright, who has shut down his restaurant twice in the past month. Wright had just reopened last Tuesday after a 12 day closing. On Wednesday Minnesota Department of Transportation told him they were again closing the bridge on Highway 99. It's a strain on my employees because college students tend to live paycheck to paycheck. They can apply for unemployment because it is classified as natural disaster, but it still doesn't pay as much as they normally make.
Flood insurance is something on the minds of many residents who live near the river.
Prafke said the city doesn't do any sandbagging on private property but can help people with other aspects. We've contacted residents whose homes are under 761 feet above sea level and urged them to look into flood insurance. Wright said Whiskey River has two types of flood insurance. The first is for business interruption, which Wright has definitely used in the past month. The second is for actual flood damage, which includes any pumping or food spoilage.