Minnesota in Photos

An exploration of our state in images.

December 17, 2012

Photos: NE Minn. flood recovery, 6 months on

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Six months ago this week, flash floods tore through northeast Minnesota, ripping up roads and filling basements. The disaster caused more than $40 million in damage to private homes -- many of them without flood insurance.

Linda Berg

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Moose Lake, MN, USA — With her mail piled up in front of her and sections of her home's siding decaying after being damaged by flooding in June from nearby Moosehorn Lake, Linda Berg spends a few quiet moments by herself looking out toward Moose Lake Elementary school Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 at her home in Moose Lake, Minn. Berg has moved out of the house she has lived in for more than 50 years after it was almost totally destroyed in flooding from nearby Moosehorn Lake. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Linda Berg

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Linda Berg reflects on the memories she had while living in her Moose Lake home of more than 50 years. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Visiting cats

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Moose Lake, MN, USA — Linda Berg visits one of her cats at her home in Moose Lake, Minn. Now living in an apartment, Berg says she can't stand to give up the address so she returns each day to collect mail and make sure the "two wilder cats" have food, water and a working warming pad. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Pouring cat food

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Moose Lake, MN, USA — Linda Berg pours cat food into a dish for her "two wilder cats." (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Ongoing repairs

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In what was previously their kitchen, Alan Johnson (left) and his wife Linda Johnson (right) talk about the ongoing repairs to their home and Alan's business, Alan Johnson Photography, as a result of massive flooding in June on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 in Thomson, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Alan Johnson

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Alan Johnson of Alan Johnson Photography talks about the ongoing repairs to his home and business as a result of massive flooding in June. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Vermilion Street

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Vermillion Street, the only road to Alan Johnson's photography business, was ruined by the June flood. This photograph is from July 8, 2012. (MPR Photo/Nathaniel Minor/Read the story) link to this photo

Curt Yort

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Curt Yort and his dog Hailey stand in a room in Yort's house that was damaged in June flooding from nearby Moosehead Lake on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in Moose Lake, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Makeshift wall

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A heavy tarp in Curt Yort's home keeps out cold air from a room that was damaged during massive flooding in June in Moose Lake, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

Jen Szczyrbak

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Jen Szczyrbak talks about the nearly completed repairs to her home while browsing through post-flood pictures six months after flooding destroyed much of her basement Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 at her home in Moose Lake, Minn. (Derek Montgomery for MPR/Read the story) link to this photo

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