Federal disaster aid approved for Minnesota counties

Jun. 13--Federal disaster aid has been approved for 51 Minnesota counties and four tribal governments, providing emergency relief to state and local governments for costs related to major flooding, blizzards and gale-force winds that afflicted the state earlier this year, according to an announcement Wednesday afternoon by Gov. Tim Walz.

The various weather events caused nearly $40 million in infrastructure damage across the state.

Walz discussed the need for a disaster relief with President Donald Trump during a presidential visit to Minnesota in April and formally made the request for a disaster declaration in a May 28 letter after cost estimates were completed.

"The news of incoming federal disaster relief is welcome after an exceptionally difficult transition from winter to spring this past year," said Walz in a written statement. "Minnesota is on the road to recovery, and the assistance granted by this declaration will expedite that process enormously."

FEMA will pay 75 percent of eligible expenses and the state will cover the 25 percent non-federal share from the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account.

Among the Minnesota counties eligible for assistance are Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan.

___

(c)2019 The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.)

Visit The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.) at www.mankatofreepress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.