Introducing the 2025 Minnesota Disaster Relief Attorney Toolkit
By Claire Hardi, Justice North Disaster Coordinator, and Kayla Niedzielski, LSNM Disaster Coordinator
Minnesotans are no strangers to extreme winter weather, but in a rapidly changing climate where storms are more severe, flooding is more frequent, and resources are stretched thin, preparing for the unexpected has never been more important. That’s why Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM) and Justice North, together with partners across the state, are proud to announce the completion of the new and improved Minnesota Statewide Disaster Toolkit! The new toolkit is a comprehensive resource written to strengthen disaster legal response for attorneys, advocates, and volunteers.
Purpose of the Disaster Toolkit
Recovering from a disaster is never simple. Survivors face complex legal challenges that can touch nearly every part of life: housing, family, employment, access to benefits, and more. Navigating that legal landscape is difficult even for the most seasoned professional. To make matters more difficult, legal aid attorneys themselves may be recovering from the same disaster while also serving their communities. It is essential to have a resource that has clear, consistent, and updated information in order to properly serve clients, especially in unfamiliar situations that may follow a disaster.
"The toolkit was immensely helpful when responding to the legal issues that arose from the storm disaster that hit Bemidji recently. In the first few days after the disaster there were a lot of things to keep track of. Not only was I responding to the legal issues coming in, but I was also managing my own personal recovery from the storm. The toolkit helped me prioritize and focus on what legal issues to look out for, as well as supplying guidance on what advice I could provide,” said Ian Cady, LSNM – Bemidji, Disaster Staff Attorney.
How the Project Started
The project began under the Cargill Disaster Grant as an effort to update the Minnesota Disaster Toolkit originally published in 2019 by Central Minnesota Legal Services (CMLS). Recognizing that disasters affect every corner of the state differently, the goal was for this new version to reflect the diverse experiences of legal aid programs across Minnesota.
As the disaster coordinators for LSNM and Justice North, we started by pitching the idea of a working group to legal aid leaders around the state in late March with the aim of bringing together voices from all regions and organizations. In the end, the collaborative group was comprised of 13 participants that included:
Legal aid attorneys from each region of the state
Disaster attorneys
Local law school representatives
Pro bono networks
State support staff
By bringing in perspectives from many different partners, we hoped to ensure that the toolkit would be a resource that is consistent, accessible, and reliable to any Minnesota lawyer or advocate after a disaster hits.
"I had a very positive experience with the toolkit workgroup. I felt the process was collaborative and appreciated this inclusive approach. I also very much appreciated the effort to address this as a state. Statewide disaster planning allows for consistency, efficiency, and better coordination across organizations. I think the key advantage of having a statewide disaster toolkit is the ability to respond more effectively and cohesively during emergencies. It promotes resource sharing and reduces duplication of effort,” noted a workgroup participant.
What the Toolkit Includes
The Disaster Toolkit consolidates federal, state, and local resources into one place, making it easier for legal professionals to find the information they need quickly. It offers:
Familiar practice areas in a disaster context: housing rights, family law, and public benefits, with notes on how these issues may arise after a disaster.
Unique disaster-specific legal issues: FEMA applications, appeals, and recoupment; Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and insurance claims.
A resource table: Includes further resources for a select few legal issues, as well as general disaster legal services resources.
Checklists for attorneys: Initial client Intake, public benefit impact check, Tribal checklist and more.
Who the Toolkit Is For
First and foremost, the Disaster Toolkit is designed for Minnesota legal aid attorneys and pro bono volunteers who may be called on to assist after disasters. But it is also a resource for community partners, recovery organizations, and survivors seeking clarity on their rights and available support.
Impact and Next Steps
Finishing this toolkit is a big step forward for disaster preparedness in Minnesota. It gives the legal aid community a shared foundation for response, so that when the next storm, fire, or flood happens, attorneys across the state will be ready to guide survivors through recovery.
Keep your eyes out for an upcoming training on the toolkit and disaster legal services!
Conclusion
The Minnesota Statewide Disaster Toolkit is now available on ProJusticeMN.org. Toolkit users will need to log in to their ProJusticeMN account to access it. We encourage legal aid attorneys and partners to explore it, share it, and put it to use in serving clients.
We sincerely thank those who participated in the workgroup and gave their time, experience, insights, and feedback to the development of the toolkit. With more and more disasters impacting Minnesotans, we are proud to continue finding new ways to empower our legal aid community when the next disaster strikes!
For questions or to share your thoughts on the toolkit, please contact:
Kayla Niedzielski, LSNM Disaster Coordinator, kniedzielski@lsnmlaw.org
Claire Hardi, Justice North Disaster Coordinator, claire.hardi@justicenorth.org