Declaration makes federal funding available

President Barack Obama issued a federal disaster declaration Wednesday for several counties in Minnesota affected by severe storms and flooding in September.

The action makes federal funding available to state and local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for assistance for emergency work and repair of damaged facilities in Blue Earth, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueuer, Rice, Steele and Waseca counties.

Preliminary damage assessments found $8.3 million in eligible public infrastructure damage and $10.1 million in estimated individual and household needs in the nine counties from storms Sept. 21 and 22. Some of the counties received as much as 10 inches of rain, the majority of which fell over the course of several hours.

The declaration includes financial assistance for eligible storm-related damage to public infrastructure in affected communities.

The federal government will provide payment of 75 percent of the eligible cost for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health, according to a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It will also provide payment of 75 percent of eligible costs for repairing damaged public facilities, roads, bridges, buildings and schools.

In addition, the disaster declaration will make affected Minnesota communities eligible for hazard mitigation grants to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from natural hazards. 

U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, DFL-Minnesota, and U.S. House Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Minnesota, and other U.S. House members in Minnesota issued a joint press release on the declaration, stating they were pleased with the declaration for public funds and hope the federal government will consider individual assistance.

“After seeing the devastation firsthand, this announcement today of federal funding for recovery efforts is welcome news for the Minnesota communities impacted by the recent storms and flooding,” Klobuchar said. “I now urge the administration to swiftly review and make a determination on federal assistance for individual recovery efforts.”

The federal dollars will be administered through the state, and the state will pay 25 percent.