FEMA to determine if Minnesota counties qualify for federal aid

Published 9:01 pm Monday, October 3, 2016

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management division has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency conduct preliminary damage assessments in 10 Minnesota counties — including Freeborn County.

Heavy rain on Sept. 21 and 22 led to widespread flooding, which resulted in an estimated $13 million in damages to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools and community parks across the 10 counties.

The federal population-based threshold set by FEMA to request assistance is $7.4 million, according to a press release.

Gov. Mark Dayton declared a peacetime state of emergency last week, and the state emergency operations center has been partially activated to work with local officials since the rains began.

“This is, by far, our largest severe weather incident of the summer, with damage estimates exceeding the previous eight disasters combined. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelley said. “Our HSEM teams will be working with FEMA to assess damages sustained in this widespread flooding.”

Assessment team visits made up of state and FEMA officials will be scheduled in the coming week.

Officials will tour damage in Blue Earth, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueuer, Rice, Sibley, Steele and Waseca.

The preliminary damage assessment is the first step in determining if Dayton will be able to make a request for a presidential declaration of a disaster.

If the damage assessments exceed the damage threshold of $7.4 million statewide, the governor will then prepare a request for a presidential disaster declaration.

If assistance programs are approved, HSEM officials work in partnership with FEMA to assistance disaster victims in their application for funds.