Klobuchar urging federal government to speed relief
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is calling on the federal government to speed disaster relief to the Southern Minnesota counties that suffered damage in recent flooding.
The senator is spending the weekend talking to officials, business owners and farmers in the Austin area about the kinds of federal help that is available.
Klobuchar said now that flood recovery is under way, the second phase of the disaster needs to be addressed. She said the widespread damage to the state's crops is expected to hit the nation hard with a spike in food prices.
Klobuchar said the Austin area will need a lot of help with recovery.
"Which is really important as we go forward that is something like $10 million and then seven businesses there have incurred about $300,000 in damages. The total infrastructure damage is $1.8 in Mower County, Fillmore County has $3 million and Houston, 3.1 million," said Klobuchar.
The counties have been declared federal disaster areas. That is the first step in securing aid from FEMA and other relief assistance.
The senator says the next step will be assessing crop damage and helping farmers get loans and other aid as soon as possible.
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