FEMA denies Dayton's appeal for flood aid

by Jon Collins, Minnesota Public Radio

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected Gov. Mark Dayton's appeal for emergency assistance for individual victims of June flooding in northeast Minnesota.

In a letter to the governor on Friday, FEMA reaffirmed the agency's July decision to deny individual and business emergency disaster aid. The agency said damage from the floods was not of the "severity and magnitude" to warrant the aid.

In a statement, Dayton said he will ask the state Legislature to provide $7.4 million in aid during the upcoming special session.

""I am very disappointed that FEMA has rejected my appeal of their decision to deny the Individual Assistance for Minnesotans whose homes, businesses and lives were devastated by the terrible flooding," Dayton said.

Dayton had requested aid for Carlton, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Lake, Pine and St. Louis counties, as well as the Fond du Lac Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa.

FEMA earlier granted the state some aid to pay for damage to public infrastructure.