Army Corps Would Fight Minn. Floods In Shutdown

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Most federal employees in Minnesota would be furloughed if a government shutdown happens; but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District is a different story.

The Army Corps is charged with responding to emergencies, so workers in Minnesota would continue to lead flood efforts across the state. Of the 200 employees in the district that would remain working, some would continue to run the state's locks and dams and navigation systems.

There are around 700 employees in the St. Pauldistrict altogether.

A shutdown could happen, as Congress hasn't yet reached a deal on a spending bill. For Minnesota, that would mean closure of several local federal agency offices and national parks. But the essentials -airports, prisons, mail, law enforcement- would be unaffected.

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