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Klobuchar, Walz, Coleman Urge Quick Action from Bush on Disaster Declaration

June 17, 2008

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congressman Tim Walz, and Senator Norm Coleman asked President Bush to quickly issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration for four southern Minnesota counties severely damaged by recent flooding. 

The request by members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation followed an official submission by Governor Pawlenty that requested federal assistance to help respond to the flooding of June 7-8th and 11-12th that severely impacted Houston, Fillmore, Mower and Freeborn counties.  The four counties sustained an estimated $8.3 million in damage due to the flooding. 

“At a time like this, local communities should not be expected to fend for themselves," Klobuchar said. “The federal government has an essential role to support communities as they recover and rebuild. The people and businesses in this area are clearly going to need some assistance and we need to get it there as soon as possible.”

“Time and again, the residents and businesses of southern Minnesota have had their communities turned upside down by severe flooding,” said Rep. Tim Walz.  “Some residents of this area are still recovering from last year’s floods, only to find themselves back in the same position.  Help from the federal government is essential to getting residents of these communities back on their feet.”

“Severe weather has once again hit Southern Minnesota extremely hard, and federal assistance is greatly needed,” said Coleman. “Between last fall’s devastating floods and last week’s massive rainfall and tornados, these communities have had considerable personal and material loss, in addition to significant agricultural damage. It is my hope President Bush will listen to our concerns and issue a Disaster Declaration in order for FEMA to start supplementing state and local recovery efforts in these flood-stricken areas.”

The text of the letter follows:

Dear President Bush:

As representatives of communities devastated by last week’s flooding throughout the Midwest, we are writing to request your assistance as residents of southern Minnesota begin to recover. 
On June 7-8, 2008, up to 10 inches of rain fell across southern Minnesota, causing flash floods, mudslides, evacuations, power outages, and numerous injuries.  Just three days later, severe weather, including several tornado touchdowns, again developed over southern Minnesota.  These storms dropped even more rain on already saturated ground and caused creeks and rivers to overflow their banks.  This too resulted in devastation and one fatality.  

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has declared a State of Emergency in Freeborn, Fillmore, Houston, and Mower Counties.  Additionally, he has determined that this incident is of such severity that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State, and to that end, he has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for these areas as well.
 
Given the degree of damage to the region, we strongly encourage you to issue such a declaration and allow FEMA to begin to supplement state and local recovery efforts in these flood-stricken areas. 

Tragically, Minnesotans have faced several disasters in the past year, and nowhere has this been truer than in Southeastern Minnesota where less than a year after historic flash flooding, they have been hit yet again with massive rainfalls which have tested their ability to recover.  We are confident that, just as they did with the floods of last August, the residents of southeast Minnesota will recover and rebuild, and we urge you to make the federal government a full partner in that effort.
 
Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your assistance in helping the recovery and rebuilding effort in southern Minnesota.
Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar             Tim Walz                           Norm Coleman
United States Senate      Member of Congress                 United States Senate

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