For Minnesotans hit hard by flooding, 1 month remains to apply for federal aid

By Cari Spencer, Minnesota Public Radio News

Minnesotans recovering from major flooding in June have about one month left to apply for federal aid.

As of Saturday, $6.8 million had been approved for 1,400 residents, said Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Kim Keblish.

Folks have until Sept. 27 to apply for grants, which can help with temporary housing assistance, home repair or replacement and other needs — including vehicle, storage and childcare costs, she said.

Applications can be filled out online or at disaster recovery centers in Waterville, Mankato and Virginia. Previous locations in Faribault and Jackson have closed, but more are expected to open in the coming weeks.

“They can get their questions answered in person. They can get help uploading documentation, and it’s really just a good way to get your questions answered in person, face to face,” Keblish said. “Nothing really beats that.”

Keblish added another advantage of going in person: Minnesotans can easily learn more about other financial resources beyond FEMA.

That includes low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which can cover homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits.

“So you’re hitting a lot of different resources that may be available to you,” Keblish said.

Recovery centers are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and will temporarily close for Labor Day on Sept. 2. Second homes and vacation homes do not qualify for assistance.

In mid-June, torrential rain began flooding communities across northeast and southern Minnesota. That flooding sent Waterville under water, prompting a National Guard deployment, and eroded a riverbank by Rapidan Dam near Mankato, swallowing a home.

By the end of that month, President Joseph Biden declared a major disaster in Minnesota, ordering federal aid to flow to 22 counties. In late July, the federal government approved individual assistance for residents in 19 counties hit hard by the floods.

Residents living in Blue Earth, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Waseca, and Watonwan counties are eligible for individual assistance.

MPR News editor Todd Melby contributed to this report.

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