Pawlenty, Klobuchar to survey flood damage

Gov. Tim Pawlenty travels to southeastern Minnesota on Sunday to meet with local officials and tour areas affected by severe flooding in Wabasha County.

That includes the towns of Zumbro Falls and Hammond. He'll be traveling with State Emergency Management Director Kris Eide.

Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar plans to visit Owatonna, Faribault and Pine Island.

Klobuchar says she'll report her findings to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the White House, which will determine what federal disaster assistance will be available.

Pawlenty has asked FEMA to conduct preliminary damage assessments, a necessary step in determining if the flooded areas qualify for a disaster declaration. Teams will start making those assessments Monday.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)