Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday requested a presidential disaster declaration tied to heavy rainstorms and flooding last month in southern Minnesota.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, Dayton described widespread damage in southern Minnesota, with the hardest hit areas in Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele and Freeborn counties.

Dayton said the storms came after a rainy summer with much of the soils saturated across the state.

“The deluge of water overpowered roadways, storm drains, sanitary sewers, lift stations, wells and residential sump pumps,” Dayton wrote. “Much of the flooding occurred far from rivers, streams and lakes. The rains fell and simply had nowhere to drain. Tragically, the water flowed into hundreds of homes, businesses and public facilities.”

He said this is the fourth major flood to strike this part of the state, following disasters in 2010, 2013 and 2014.

“Without the support of FEMA individual assistance to recover from the previous floods, homeowners have had to bear the costs of repairing their homes and systems without help,” he wrote. “The repetitive losses are taking a significant toll on homeowners — both financial and emotional.”

Federal, state, and local officials conducted preliminary damage assessments from Oct. 11 through 14.

Individual assistance assessments for Blue Earth, Freeborn, Steele and Waseca counties identified 1,148 uninsured households and $10.1 million in estimated individual and household needs, according to the letter.

Public assistance assessments in Anoka, Blue Earth, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Rice, Steel and Waseca counties identified $8.3 million in eligible damages.

The FEMA threshold for public infrastructure assistance is $7.5 million in statewide eligible damages.

If the president declares a major disaster, FEMA would fund 75 percent of approved costs and the state would pay for 25 percent. The declaration would provide assistance to public entities like townships, cities, counties, schools and certain private nonprofit organizations for uninsured and eligible storm-related damage to public infrastructure.