Officials from Freeborn County will attend an applicant briefing for public assistance, hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on Wednesday morning.

The meeting begins the process of determining the amount of public assistance Freeborn County will receive from FEMA, in response to damages sustained in the flooding of Sept. 22.

According to Freeborn County Emergency Management Director Mark Roche, the meeting welcomes officials of townships and communities within the county, as well as Freeborn County officials whose departments meet at least $1,000 in damages.

“This is the first step for applicants to get briefed and get their names into FEMA’s records,” said Roche.

Roche also said those who attend will receive a workbook to begin preparing information to move onto the next level, which will be FEMA agents visiting Freeborn County and meeting with public officials one-on-one.

Preliminary estimates showed that damages to county infrastructure were estimated at about $189,000. Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever said there is usually a 75 percent cost reimbursement by FEMA.

The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Steele County Fairgrounds, 1380 S. Elm St., Owatonna.

Official from Steele, Dodge and Waseca counties will attend.