MN Congressional Delegation Ask for Disaster Declaration for Spring Flooding

Washington, D.C. (KROC-AM News)- Historically dry conditions throughout southeast Minnesota makes this past spring’s flooding seem like a distant memory, but that is not the case in Washington. 

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Minnesota's eight House Representatives and two Senators have put pen to paper to call on President Joe Biden to approve Gov. Tim Walz’s request for a disaster declaration to assist communities that were hit hard by high river levels. 

“We write to you in strong support of the state of Minnesota’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act to assist communities that are working to recover from severe weather this spring including flooding due to excessive snowmelt and rain. These natural disaster events have caused significant damage in our state, and we ask that you quickly grant approval for federal government disaster assistance,” part of the letter states. 

The letter details the colder than usual March and heavy snowfall in northern Minnesota fueling high water levels along the Mississippi, St. Croix and Red Rivers. A summary of the flooding from the National Weather Service indicates Winona and Wabasha saw the-third highest flooding levels on record this spring. 

The bipartisan letter also highlighted costly damage inflicted upon Stillwater and communities in the Red River Valley.