This week, Minnesota took an important step toward securing significant resources to strengthen our ongoing disaster recovery efforts after last month’s severe storms and flooding.

On Wednesday, July 9, Gov. Mark Dayton requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration covering 51 total counties, including Mower, Dodge and Freeborn. I am grateful for the governor’s assistance and leadership to support Minnesotans during this time of extraordinary need.

Financial assistance from the federal government becomes available when damages from a natural disaster meet a $7.3 million threshold. With $10.8 million in eligible damages documented through preliminary assessments so far and another $55 million in response costs and damages to uninsured public infrastructure reported by local governments, Minnesotans can expect to receive substantial aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A Presidential Disaster Declaration makes financial assistance available for townships, cities, counties, schools and certain private not-for-profit organizations for uninsured and eligible storm-related damage to public infrastructure.

Examples of eligible expenses include debris removal, emergency protective services and repair or replacement of storm-damaged roads and bridges water control facilities buildings and equipment, municipal utilities and parks and recreational facilities.

If the President declares a major disaster, FEMA would fund 75 percent of approved costs, with Minnesota covering the remaining 25 percent non-federal share.

Gov. Dayton also requested federal funding for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. All counties in the state would be eligible to apply for assistance under this program which provides funding to state and local governments and certain private not-for-profit organizations to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

Federal and state aid typically only covers costs to repair and replace uninsured public infrastructure, but financial assistance may still be possible for homeowners, renters and business owners from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). More information about SBA disaster loans is available online at www.sba.gov/disaster, by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by phone at 800-659-2955.

In addition, a Presidential Disaster Declaration makes assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture available for farmers and livestock producers. Please contact me if I can be of any help in providing information about eligibility requirements and the application process for emergency loans from either the USDA or the Rural Finance Agency.