ST. PAUL (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton is asking President Barack Obama for a major federal disaster declaration after damages from Sunday's tornado have been estimated at over $16 million.

Dayton says he sent a letter to Obama on Friday, asking for the declaration for Hennepin and Anoka Counties.

He says preliminary damage assessments estimate $16.33 million in costs and damages.

In the letter, Dayton requests public assistance for affected areas, as well as individual assistance for affected residents in Hennepin County - preliminary assessments there show 25 homes were destroyed, another 92 had major damage and 328 had minor damage.

If Obama declares a major disaster and public assistance is approved, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will fund 75 percent of costs, possibly covering debris removal, emergency services and repair of public facilities.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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