The county was figuring out its next steps based on feedback from the community.

Last year, Blue Earth County sought to release its licensure exemption under the federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as the damage no longer allowed the dam to produce electricity effectively.

Barnes grew up in the house now teetering on the edge of the riverbank. She said there’s always a risk of flooding when living near a river, but damage this severe was unthinkable because the house was not close to the level of the river.

“We were up on the higher end of this embankment,” Barnes said. “We weren’t anywhere near ever thinking about the risk of flooding ever.”

The family watched the river swell over the weekend, “play by play.” When it swallowed a nearby shed owned by Blue Earth County, Barnes said she knew her house’s fate was “inevitable.”

“It’s been a very scary and hard situation,” she said.

On social media, commenters have left hundreds of comments wishing the family well and praising the Dam Store for its food and friendly service. Despite the remote location of the unassuming café, it has been included in destination guides as one of Minnesota’s best pie shops, and online reviewers say the desserts alone are“worth the trip.” 

The Blue Earth Historic Society says the building where the Dam Store operates has been in existence since the dam was built in 1910 as an energy source. Up until now, it had suffered no major destruction. 

Lori Ann Bode, who lives near the store, said the Dam Store is “historical” and a destination known throughout the state. Senators have been known to visit just to look at the dam and bring pie back to their hometowns, Bode said.