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To assist Minnesota and Wisconsin residents and small business owners who were devastated by the late September 2010 floods, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing more than $1 million in Disaster Assistance Loans. So far, 22 disaster loans totaling more than $1,160,000 have been approved.

Are your pipes are ready for winter weather? No matter the type of building, a burst pipe can prove to be costly and devastating. Take, for example, Washington Elementary, which experienced a burst pipe that damaged property such as library books and carpets. Luckily, school staff was in the building shortly after the pipe burst, so the damage was not as bad as it could have been.

Does your lawn still have a grayish-white fuzz on it even after the winter snow melts? If so, you have snow mold on your hands. Snow mold happens when deep snowfall occurs early in the cold weather season and prevents the ground from freezing. The cool, moist area between the ground and snow becomes the perfect breeding ground for snow mold to become active. As long as the ground stays moist, the mold will stick around. This type of mold is sometimes also seen in piles of un-raked leaves.

Family, football, pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberries and “the bird”: these components, and more, help make up the day we call “Thanksgiving.” In a flurry to be prepared for this special Thursday, many people focus on what they need to do to get the food on the table in time for dinner without any major culinary disasters. What many do not think about, however, is safety. Coincidentally, Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days for firefighters and emergency workers. Help give these workers a break and keep your family safe with the following Thanksgiving Day tips.

Winter weather worries include more than snow and freezing temperatures; winter is also one of the busiest flood seasons. Past floods have served as benchmarks and learning opportunities for communities that want to make sure their residents are ready for unexpected events, such as flash floods.