(St. Paul)– Minnesota is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess damage from heavy snow and freezing rain in several counties in the southwestern part of the state.
Minnesota’s top emergency official, Kris Eide, made the request Wednesday.
The request includes damage assessments in Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles and Rock counties to see if they qualify for the public assistance program. If approved by FEMA, the program would help state and local governments and non-profits repair or replace storm-damaged facilities.
Disaster recovery experts from Minnesota’s Homeland Security and emergency management met with local officials and determined an assessment is needed to see if storm cleanup costs meet the federal funding threshold.
The preliminary damage assessment is the first step in determining if Governor Mark Dayton will request a presidential disaster declaration.
(From the Associated Press.)
