Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty announced this evening that President Obama has declared an emergency for the State of Minnesota due to severe storms and flooding affecting Wilkin, Clay, Marshall, Polk, Norman, Kittson, and Traverse counties along the Red River in northwestern Minnesota.

The President’s emergency declaration authorizes Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the seven counties that are impacted.

“We appreciate the assistance of our federal partners in fighting this historic flood,” Governor Pawlenty said. “We’re putting everything we’ve got into this effort and it helps to have every level of government working side-by-side.”

On March 20, Governor Pawlenty declared a State of Emergency for seven Minnesota counties as they prepared for serious flooding. His executive order activated the National Guard to assist in flood preparations and directed the Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to activate the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan.

Tonight’s action by the President authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding.

In addition, Governor Pawlenty asked Moorhead residents who have been asked to evacuate to comply with those requests and safely leave their homes. This evening, Moorhead officials asked those who live south of I-94 and west of 8th St. S./Hwy. 75 to evacuate.

“In this trying and difficult situation it’s critical that Minnesotans pull together and act on advice from emergency responders,” Governor Pawlenty said.

City officials request that once residents are at a safe location, they call 218-477-4747 to register their home’s address and temporary location so emergency personnel and family and friends know your location.

If residents need assistance with relocation, they are asked to call the relocation hotline 218-477-4747. A Red Cross shelter is available at Moorhead High School, 2300 4th Ave. South.

This afternoon the National Weather Service raised the crest prediction for this weekend in Fargo-Moorhead to between 41 and 42 feet and potentially as high as 43 feet. The current record flood level is 40.1 feet in 1897. It’s projected that the crest level could continue for three to seven days.

The Minnesota National Guard reports more than 450 personnel working in four counties. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has deployed five enforcement teams in addition to local DNR officers. DNR has 13 boats and ten conservation officers in Moorhead for evacuation efforts. Many other state agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are involved in the flood effort.