Major Disaster Declared in 16 Areas in Minnesota

A federal disaster declaration has been issued for 13 Minnesota counties and three tribal nations after preliminary assessments showed recent floods and storms caused more than $108 million in damage.

The disaster declaration covers Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Goodhue, Kandiyohi, Lake, Meeker, Pine, Rice, Sibley and St. Louis counties as well as the Fond du Lac Tribal Nation, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the Grand Portage Tribal Nation.

The declaration means these areas are eligible for public aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover 75 percent of costs related to fixing or replacing roads, bridges or other public facilities.

The state also requested individual assistance for some who were not covered by insurance. Those assessments will start July 11.