¾ÅÉ«

Public and private property damage from recent flooding across seven southern Minnesota counties has topped $67 million.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty provided the figure in a letter to state lawmakers. Fillmore, Winona, Houston, Steele, Olmsted and Wabasha counties have been declared federal disaster areas. Pawlenty is seeking assistance for Dodge County too.

For now, the disaster declarations include only individual aid and help for search and rescue-type programs. Pawlenty said he anticipates federal assistance will soon apply to other categories, such as the rebuilding of public infrastructure.

Pawlenty says he’s willing to call a special session to provide financial relief. But he first wants to set limits on the session’s length and items that will be discussed.

Topics Flood