Morrison County Approved for Federal Aid To Repair Spring Flood Damage

(KNSI) – A central Minnesota county has been approved for aid to help recover from spring flooding.

Morrison County is among 23 to get a major disaster declaration from the federal government. The aid will help the county replace damaged infrastructure from the flood and storm damage in April.

The declaration unlocks public assistance for local governments by helping to cover the cost of emergency work and repairing or replacing damaged facilities. The aid is only for public property.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration are tasked with helping residents and businesses. Through an assessment process, potential recipients must go through individual assistance programs or apply for low-interest loans from the SBA, which are subject to an approval process.

According to the St. Cloud State University’s weather department, Minnesota went through one of its snowiest winters on record, with St. Cloud getting a record 88.2 inches. A heat wave on April 11th through the 14th, followed by rain and later snow, caused rapid snowmelt and rivers to rise.

Governor Tim Walz wrote to the President requesting the declaration on June 28th. Assistance was approved for Aitkin, Big Stone, Carlton, Chippewa, Clay, Grant, Houston, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Norman, Pine, Pope, Renville, Roseau, St. Louis, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties and the Prairie Island Indian Community.

“I’m grateful to our federal partners for their support and recognition of the challenge this spring’s historic flooding season brought for so many Minnesotans,” said Governor Walz.

Minnesotans may be thinking about what a difference a few months can make as the state is in the middle of its third drought in a row. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, the St. Cloud area is in extreme drought, seeing less than three inches of rain since June 1st.

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