ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton has sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration in Minnesota communities impacted by severe storms and flooding between June 15 and July 12, 2018. In the letter, Governor Dayton describes damage across the state from heavy rainfall, tornadoes, straight-line winds, violent thunderstorms, and widespread flooding. In response to the storms, the Governor declared a Peacetime State of Emergency in 36 counties and one tribal nation, and personally visited storm-damaged communities across the state.

 

“The early summer of 2018 was exceptionally stormy and rainy in Minnesota,” Governor Dayton wrote. “Parts of the state received as much as 400 percent of normal rainfall during that period. The system repeatedly generated severe storms every 24 to 72 hours that produced deluge rains, strong winds, tornadoes, and flooding. Nationally, meteorologists referred to the hot, humid, high pressure ridge that kept this pattern in place over Minnesota for nearly a month as a ‘ring of fire.’”

 

Governor Dayton is requesting federal assistance to help cover reimbursement for damage expenses in the counties of Aitkin, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Faribault, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Redwood, Renville, Rock, St. Louis, Sibley, and Watonwan, and the tribal governments of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation.

 

If granted by the President, the federal disaster declaration requested by Governor Dayton would provide needed assistance to public entities including 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 the repair or replacement of storm-damaged public infrastructure. The state also may be eligible for federal aid available to individuals and households seriously impacted by the severe storm and flooding. 

 

Federal, state, and local officials conducted preliminary damage assessments from July 19 to July 31, 2018. Those assessments verified more than $21 million of eligible damages for 29 counties and three Tribal Nations. The FEMA threshold for public infrastructure assistance is $7.7 million in statewide eligible damages. If the President declares a major disaster, FEMA would fund 75 percent of approved costs. Under legislation signed by Governor Dayton in 2014, the State of Minnesota would pay the 25 percent non-federal share.

 

When an event occurs that is beyond the response and recovery capabilities of local and state governments, the State of Minnesota initiates a process to seek assistance from the Federal Government.

 

• Local and State Officials Conduct Initial Impact Assessments – These assessments occur shortly after the storm when local officials inform Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) which facilities in their community are impacted or damaged, and the impacts to residents.

 

• HSEM Requests FEMA to Conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment – Teams from affected counties, HSEM and FEMA conduct the assessments. They view the damage and collect the cost estimates from county officials. Each county must meet its individual threshold, which is defined as population times $3.68. The state also must meet a threshold of $7.7 million statewide. 

 

• HSEM Prepares the Governor’s Request for a Disaster Declaration – A letter (like the one Governor Dayton sent to President Trump today) details the event and cites National Weather Service data. It must document factors that determine severity, magnitude and impact. It also documents what local officials did to respond to the emergency. Local input regarding impact to the community is gathered and incorporated in the letter. This includes the amount and type of damage, impact on infrastructure, impact on essential services, concentration of damage, level of insurance coverage, assistance available from other sources, and if there is an imminent threat to public health and safety.

 

• Governor Submits the Letter to the President through FEMA – FEMA reviews and sends the letter, with its recommendation to the President. The President is the only one with authority to grant a Presidential Disaster Declaration. If assistance programs are approved, HSEM officials work in partnership with FEMA to assist disaster victims in their application for funds.