Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made another request for federal aid Wednesday — this time in a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The letter requests a federal disaster declaration in seven counties throughout the state. If granted, the declaration will qualify people affected by the June 17-26 storms, tornadoes and flooding for an emergency loan program.

Counties included are Olmsted, Freeborn, Faribault, Steele, Otter Tail, Polk and Wadena.

The loans are intended to help the owners of homes, businesses and farms repair and rebuild after disaster.

Pawlenty’s letter comes after the Federal Emergency Management Agency on July 2 approved federal aid for state and local recovery efforts and certain private nonprofit organizations but denied assistance for affected individuals.

“Although this disaster is devastating to the individuals, households and business operators directly impacted by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, my request for federal assistance was denied … Although I will not appeal the FEMA denial for an individual assistance disaster declaration, I am seeking immediate federal assistance from the SBA,” the letter states.

He said the affected counties should qualify for the emergency loan program because the SBA damage threshold of at least 25 homes and/or businesses with 40 percent or more uninsured losses has been met.

In Otter Tail and Wadena counties, specifically, there were at least 25 homes or 25 businesses — or a combination of both — that sustained uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of the estimated fair market replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property, whichever is lower, he continued.

He said the storms that went through much of Minnesota on June 17 produced 20 confirmed tornadoes ranging in intensity from EFO (65 to 85 mph) to EF4 (166-200 mph).

Three fatalities were confirmed — including one in Freeborn County — and numerous injuries were reported.

Local emergencies were declared in Faribault, Freeborn, Steele and Wadena counties, along with the city of Wadena.

“Damage to homes, farmsteads, public infrastructure and businesses has been extensive,” Pawlenty said.

A preliminary damage assessment conducted by federal, state and local officials on June 22 and 23 identified over 100 homes and businesses across the state that are considered destroyed or damaged to the extent that they are uninhabitable without extensive repair, he added.