Minn. asks feds to help 6 more counties with flooding

Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials said Thursday they are requesting that six more counties be included to the state's major disaster declaration for spring flooding.

Officials sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting that Cottonwood, McLeod, Pennington, Ramsey, Red Lake and Stevens counties be included. The state also wants the Prairie Island Tribal Community to be added.

The request comes after officials found an additional $3.1 million in costs and damages from spring flooding. An initial damage assessment was conducted in early April, but some places were still under water at that time.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has already secured a major disaster declaration for 18 counties. The disaster aid includes public assistance for emergency work and grant aid to prevent flooding in the future.