Dayton Gets Obama’s Sign-off For Disaster Help in Storms

ST. PAUL -- Federal help is on the way to a handful of southern Minnesota counties hammered by rain and flooding.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in Minnesota on Wednesday following Gov. Mark Dayton's request late last month. Storms from Sept. 21-22 in nine southern Minnesota counties caused more than $8 million in damage to public infrastructure.

The declaration means that the federal government will cover 75 percent of approved costs. Federal aid may also be available to households damaged by flooding.

Up to 10 inches of rain were recorded in the southern Minnesota storms. Estimates also show more than $10 million in damages to homes and individual property in the region.