After several severe storms and floods this spring season communities throughout the Northland are struggling to recover. The Biden Administration approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for 22 Counties to receive federal disaster relief after significant flooding damages.

Right now, the federal disaster relief applies to counties such as St. Louis, Lake, Cook, Cass, and several others. But that list will most likely grow as more damage estimates are accounted for. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith say the federal assistance will help Minnesota communities recover from storms and flooding.

“Across our state, these floods have inflicted serious damage and we must all work together to recover,” said Senator Klobuchar. “I am glad the Administration swiftly took action on our request so that our state can receive critical federal disaster relief funds.”

Governor Tim Walz says the federal disaster declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will also provide resources to reimburse communities. The reimbursement will help with debris removal, emergency protective measures, along with repairs and replacing damaged infrastructure.

This announcement comes after Governor Walz sent a letter to the President requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Yesterday, Governor Walz and FEMA Regional Administrator Tom Sivak provided an update on Minnesota’s flood outlook and ongoing emergency response.

“I’ve seen the damage across our state firsthand – it’s going to take a united effort at every level of government to quickly rebuild and recover. This assistance is going to make all the difference in that recovery,” said Governor Walz. “I’m grateful to our partners in the federal government for doing their part, just as Minnesotans have done theirs, filling tens of thousands of sandbags, checking in on their neighbors, and volunteering their time.”

However, damage assessments are still ongoing. Additional Minnesota Counties and other forms of assistance will most likely add on to the future assessments. The current Minnesota Counties receiving federal disaster relief funds are listed below:

The counties approved for public assistance include:

• Blue Earth
• Carver
• Cass
• Cook
• Cottonwood
• Faribault
• Fillmore
• Freeborn
• Goodhue
• Jackson
• Lake
• Le Sueur
• Murray
• Nobles
• Pipestone
• Rice
• Rock
• St. Louis
• Steele
• Wabasha
• Waseca
• Watonwan

For more information about the federal disaster relief you can read more here. Also for other stories about residents are recovering from the flooding in the Northland you can read more here.