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Klobuchar, Franken, Cravaack Urge President to Reconsider Decision on Individual Assistance in Wake of Flooding

In letter to President, members offered support for Governor Mark Dayton’s official appeal of the FEMA decision

August 1, 2012

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Al Franken, and Representative Chip Cravaack today urged the President to reconsider the recent decision denying individual assistance to residents of Northeast Minnesota in the wake of last month’s flooding. In a letter to President Obama, the members offered their support for Governor Dayton’s recent appeal of the decision and the need to reexamine the level of need in the affected communities.

“As congressional representatives of communities devastated by recent flooding, we write in strong support of Governor Dayton’s appeal to reverse the decision denying residents and businesses of Northeastern Minnesota much-needed individual assistance. We have all visited the affected areas and seen the damage to private property, and are deeply concerned that the Administration determined that the severe damage to homes was not significant enough to warrant this support,” the members said in the letter. “While we are continually impressed with the community response and the resilience of our constituents, we believe that federal assistance is necessary beyond the public assistance that has already been granted.”

Earlier this month, at the urging of members of the Minnesota delegation including Klobuchar, Franken and Cravaack, President Obama approved federal assistance to help Minnesota communities repair public infrastructure damaged by recent flooding.

The full text of the letter is below.

August 1, 2012

 

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States of America

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear Mr. President:

As congressional representatives of communities devastated by recent flooding, we write in strong support of Governor Dayton’s appeal to reverse the decision denying residents and businesses of Northeastern Minnesota much-needed individual assistance.

The heavy rains and resulting devastating flooding that occurred across Northeastern Minnesota damaged more than 1,700 homes.  The flood was a historic 500-year event that affected hundreds of homes outside of the designated flood plain.  As a result, 93 percent of the homeowners in the flooded area did not have flood insurance.

Compounding the flooding is the fact that most Minnesota homes are constructed with basements that contain electrical equipment, heating and cooling systems and water heaters.  Oftentimes, these basements are partially or fully finished and serve as primary living spaces, which are costly to cleanup and restore. 

We have all visited the affected areas and seen the damage to private property, and are deeply concerned that the Administration determined that the severe damage to homes was not significant enough to warrant individual assistance. While we are continually impressed with the community response and the resilience of our constituents, we believe that federal assistance is necessary beyond the public assistance that has already been granted. 

We ask that you quickly and carefully examine the data, damage reports and amended documentation submitted in the Governor’s appeal for individual assistance. 

Sincerely,

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