State officials have requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) do a preliminary damage assessment in southwestern and west-central Minnesota following torrential rains and flooding. State Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly said Monday in Windom, “We have a disaster on our hands, so we are looking forward to them coming the latter half of next week.”
Kelly is urging officials and residents in all affected communities to continue assembling complete documentation of losses. Governor Mark Dayton has indicated he’ll request a federal disaster declaration.