Gov. Mark Dayton has sent a letter to President Obama, requesting a federal disaster declaration for 13 northeastern Minnesota counties and three tribal regions.
In the wake of last week's 500-year floods, the governor is requesting disaster declarations for 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 state estimates that the floods caused more than $108 million in damage to public infrastructure in the stricken region. That doesn't include damage to private homes and businesses, which will likely push the toll much higher.
Dayton told reporters Friday that he plans to call a special legislative session in late July or August to address the cost of flood cleanup.
Dayton's letter to the Obama administration:
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