(St Paul, MN)  -  Governor Mark Dayton today formally submitted a request to President Obama to declare a major disaster in Minnesota due to the widespread damage caused by June’s heavy rain. In his letter, Dayton notes 55 of the state’s 87 counties have reported damage. A preliminary estimate puts the damage and response cost in areas that have been assessed so far at $55 million. His letter

says most of the damage reported by local officials was to roads and bridges.

One of the highest damage estimates not involving public infrastructure involves Fairview Riverside Medical Center which sits on top of the west bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Heavy rain created a large mudslide and it’s estimated it will cost more than $3 million to stabilize the hillside.

If the request is granted, the disaster declaration would provide assistance to townships, cities, counties, schools, and certain private not-for-profit organizations for uninsured and eligible storm-related damage to public infrastructure.

Dayton’s letter says June was a record-setting month for rainfall. On a statewide basis, it was not only the wettest June ever recorded, but established a new high for any month of the year. More than 90 climate stations reported more than 10 inches of rain for the month.

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