Governor Mark Dayton is asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 16 additional counties in Minnesota as a result of the June flooding and storm damage. That would bring the total declaration to 51 counties. Minnesota State Ag Committee Ranking Member Gary Dahmes says the declaration would trigger state dollars to help repair rural roads and bridges.
He says the disaster declaration and state match would mean the burden for funding would not fall solely on the counties, townships and cities.
To date, $10.8 million in damages have been documented through preliminary assessments in Chippewa, Freeborn, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Renville, and Rock counties. As well 31 counties have reported more than $55 million in response costs and uninsured damages to public infrastructure.