State estimates flood damage at $14.7 million

Spring flooding caused an estimated $14.7 million in damage, state officials announced Friday.

Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management met with officials in 23 counties.

The teams reviewed the costs of flood preparations and also inspected damage to public infrastructure.

The information will be submitted to FEMA officials in Washington, D.C., to determine whether Minnesota qualifies for federal major disaster assistance. A federal disaster was declared March 19 so that FEMA could provide emergency assistance.

State officials said in a news release that the threshold for Minnesota to be declared a major disaster area should be $6.4 million, which is far below the damage estimate.

If the state receives the declaration, the federal government will pay 75 percent of the costs for protective measures, clean-up efforts, and damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure.