Klobuchar says she'll push White House to help flood areas

Flooding in Owatonna
Law enforcement servicemen examine the rising water levels in the Straight River in Owatonna, Minn. Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar met with people who have lost their homes to flooding Sunday in Zumbro Falls, Hammond, and other south central Minnesota cities.

Klobuchar praised the work of emergency crews and volunteers who are providing food and shelter to displaced families.

Klobuchar said now the focus must turn to paperwork, and that it's important to document damage in order to get as much federal funding as possible.

"I'll be speaking to [Homeland Security] Secretary Janet Napolitano in the next few days and discussing the extent of the damage, making sure they see this as a priority," Klobuchar said. "The second thing is just all those small things that happen every day; when calls aren't returned from a big federal bureaucracy."

Klobuchar said the job of her staff and for her at times is to really push the envelope if something's not getting done. She said she'll push the White House to secure as much federal funding as she can.

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