22 counties approved for federal disaster declaration

ST. PAUL — Cass County is one of 22 counties that have been approved for a federal disaster declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for severe flooding over the last two weeks.

Governor Tim Walz said the declaration will provide resources to reimburse communities for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repair and replacement of damaged infrastructure.

This announcement comes after Gov. Walz sent a letter to the President requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Friday the governor and FEMA Regional Administrator Tom Sivak provided an update on the state’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 Gov. 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.”