State officials are asking homeowners in seven southern Minnesota counties to report to their county emergency manager any damage from rainstorms and flooding during the third week of September, if they haven’t done so already. The federal government denied Minnesota’s request for disaster aid to individuals, and Governor Mark Dayton is gathering information for an appeal. Counties affected are: Blue Earth, Freeborn, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele and Waseca counties. Earlier this week, President Obama declared nine southern Minnesota counties a disaster area, but federal aid is available only to repair public infrastructure.