Pawlenty seeks federal disaster status for flooded counties

Submerged cars
Cars submerged in the floodwaters near downtown Austin, Minn. Gov. Pawlenty has requested that four counties in southeastern Minnesota, including Mower county, be declared federal disaster areas.
MPR Photo/Sea Stachura

In a letter sent to President George Bush, Gov. Pawlenty requested federal aid for Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston and Mower counties.

Damage to public infrastructure alone in those four counties has been estimated at $8.3 million.

Pawlenty wrote that "the incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments."

The request includes all categories of assistance available through the Public Assistance Program, which provides funding for public infrastructure, emergency response and debris removal.

The state is reserving the right to request additional funding from the Individual Assistance Program.

The governor also announced the Minnesota Recovers Task Force will meet Monday to coordinate the state response to the flood recovery.

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