Governor Tim Walz Saturday announced that 22 counties have been approved for a federal disaster declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for severe flooding over the last two weeks.
The declaration will reportedly provide the counties with resources to reimburse communities for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repairing and replacing damaged infrastructure.
This announcement comes after Governor Walz sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration. On Friday, Governor Walz and FEMA Regional Administrator Tom Sivak provided an update on the state’s flood outlook and ongoing emergency response.
“I’ve seen the damage across our state firsthand – it’s going to take a united effort at every level of government to quickly rebuild and recover. This assistance is going to make all the difference in that recovery,” said Governor Walz. “I’m grateful to our partners in the federal government for doing their part, just as Minnesotans have done theirs, filling tens of thousands of sandbags, checking in on their neighbors, and volunteering their time.”
The counties approved for public assistance include:
- Blue Earth
- Carver
- Cass
- Cook
- Cottonwood
- Faribault
- Fillmore
- Freeborn
- Goodhue
- Jackson
- Lake
- Le Sueur
- Murray
- Nobles
- Pipestone
- Rice
- Rock
- St. Louis
- Steele
- Wabasha
- Waseca
- Watonwan
Damage assessments are ongoing, and once they are completed, additional counties and forms of assistance may be added.
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