ST. PAUL, MN – Yesterday, Governor Mark Dayton formally appealed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) denial of assistance to individuals and households in southern Minnesota seriously impacted by heavy rainstorms and flooding on September 21-22, 2016.

 

In his appeal letter to FEMA, Governor Dayton wrote that the original “estimated amount of Individual Assistance needs were understated by at least a third. Due to time constraints and the non-availability of homeowners – many who were at work – a significant number of damaged structures were not inspected during the initial damage assessment.”

 

Governor Dayton originally requested the assistance for communities in southern Minnesota on October 19, 2016. The Governor’s letter followed damage assessments by FEMA, HSEM, and local governments, which found $8.3 million in eligible public infrastructure damage and $10.1 million in estimated individual and household needs.

 

President Obama previously declared a major disaster in nine Minnesota counties, making them eligible for federal funds that will be used to help pay for the repair of public infrastructure.

 

Governor Dayton’s appeal letter can be found here.