Senator Amy Klobuchar

Working for the People of Minnesota

Press Contact

Joel Gross
Press Secretary
(202) 224-3244

News Releases

Klobuchar, Coleman, Walz, Announce Presidential Disaster Declaration For MN Counties

June 25, 2008

Washington, D.C.—After sending a letter to President Bush supporting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for four southern Minnesota counties severely damaged by recent flooding, Senators Amy Klobuchar, Norm Coleman and Congressman Tim Walz announced today the President has responded and a declared major disaster for Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, and Mower Counties.  The four counties sustained an estimated $8.3 million in damage due to the flooding. These counties are now eligible to receive aid through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.  Public Assistance is oriented to public entities and can fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of a public facility or infrastructure, which is damaged or destroyed by a disaster.  State officials, assisted by FEMA, will conduct Applicant Briefings for State, local and PNP officials to inform them about the assistance available and how to apply for it. 

“These communities have shown tremendous courage and resilience since the floods hit,’’ Klobuchar said. “But at a time like this local communities should not be expected to fend for themselves. The federal government has an essential role to support communities as they recover and rebuild, and I’m proud that we will be able to deliver help quickly.’’

“All four of these counties have experienced their second serious flood in just a few short years.  This presidential declaration allows affected cities to obtain hazard mitigation funding that can help prevent flooding in the future,” said Congressman Walz.  “Businesses like Austin Packaging Company are counting on federal dollars to help make it possible for them to continue operations in our area.  I believe this declaration will make the difference for APC and others who are trying to recover and plan for the future.”

“Southeastern Minnesota is in need of assistance right now, and this disaster declaration will help the region recover,” said Coleman.  “After visiting the flood-stricken areas, I saw firsthand the toll the storms took on these communities.  A Presidential Disaster Declaration will deliver the assistance these counties need to rebuild their communities and their lives.  I applaud the President for this decision -- it will make all the difference for an area of the state that has endured great hardship.”

The support letter sent by Klobuchar, Coleman and Walz, followed an official submission for assistance by Governor Pawlenty who 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 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.

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