ST. PAUL — The federal government has denied Minnesota’s request to add Dakota County to a disaster declaration for recent severe storms and flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified the state about the rejection late Tuesday.

In a letter, FEMA said the damage in Dakota County was not severe enough to include the southern metro county in the declaration.

The state has 30 days to appeal. The Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management division plans to appeal the decision.

So far, 37 Minnesota counties and three tribal governments have been designated eligible to receive federal money to deal with flooding and storms that happened in June and July. Total preliminary damage estimates exceed $40 million.