Sens. Klobuchar, Franken, Reps. Peterson, McCollum, Kline, Cravaack Urge President Obama to Provide Federal Assistance for Minnesota Communities Devastated by Flooding

For Immediate Release: July 2, 2012
Contact: Maria Reppas (McCollum), 202-225-6631

Sens. Klobuchar, Franken, Reps. Peterson, McCollum, Kline, Cravaack Urge President Obama to Provide Federal Assistance for Minnesota Communities Devastated by Flooding

WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/02/12] – Today, in an effort to bring badly needed relief to areas of Minnesota devastated by recent flooding, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (D-Minn.) and U.S. Reps. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), John Kline (R-Minn.), and Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) urged President Barack Obama to quickly issue a Federal Disaster Declaration. On Friday, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton announced that state and local governments would need assistance to repair public infrastructure, and asked the President for the help of the federal government.

"As congressional representatives of communities across Minnesota, we are writing to request your assistance in helping our constituents recover from recent flooding," Minnesota's delegation wrote in a letter to the White House. "The Governor of Minnesota has determined that these incidents are beyond the capability of our State and local governments to address on their own, and has therefore requested a Federal Disaster Declaration. Given the widespread damage in these areas, we write in strong support of the Governor’s request and encourage you to issue a Disaster Declaration in a timely manner so Federal programs to assist in the response and recovery efforts may be activated."

On Friday, Governor Dayton announced that damages to public infrastructure totaled over $108 million in 13 Minnesota counties and three tribal nations. If approved, a federal disaster declaration would mean repair and replacement of public infrastructure would be funded at a rate of 75 percent by the federal government. The full text of the delegation's letter to President Obama is below.

July 2, 2012

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As congressional representatives of communities across Minnesota, we are writing to request your assistance in helping our constituents recover from recent flooding.

In June, severe flooding caused widespread damage across the state of Minnesota. Some areas reported a 24-hour rainfall of up to 10 inches. The record-setting rainfall overwhelmed the public infrastructure and caused extensive damage, closing many roads and washing out others. The Governor of Minnesota has determined that these incidents are beyond the capability of our State and local governments to address on their own, and has therefore requested a Federal Disaster Declaration.

Given the widespread damage in these areas, we write in strong support of the Governor’s request and encourage you to issue a Disaster Declaration in a timely manner so Federal programs to assist in the response and recovery efforts may be activated.

While we have all been shocked by the power of these storms, we are confident in the spirit of our constituents and their ability to recover and rebuild, and we ask you to make the federal government a full partner in their effort.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your assistance in helping the recovery effort across Minnesota.

Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator

Al Franken
United States Senator

Collin Peterson
Member of Congress

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress

John Kline
Member of Congress

Chip Cravaack
Member of Congress