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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Authorizes Disaster Assistance for Six Counties Damaged by Severe Storms
ST. PAUL, MN (August 20, 2026) Minnesota will provide emergency assistance to six counties recovering from public-infrastructure damage caused by severe storms, flash flooding and tornadoes earlier this summer.
Gov. Tim Walz authorized assistance for Becker, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Houston, Mower and Winona counties.
The damaging weather occurred between June 28 and July 8. State officials said the assistance will support the repair and restoration of critical public infrastructure affected by the storms.
Eligible expenses may include emergency protective measures and repairs to public roads, bridges, utilities and other government-owned facilities. Final assistance amounts will be determined after officials complete damage assessments and confirm which costs qualify under state requirements.
The authorization does not necessarily represent direct payments to individual homeowners or businesses. Disaster programs for private property operate under different eligibility standards and may require separate applications or federal declarations.
Southern Minnesota communities experienced flooding and other storm damage during the period covered by the authorization. Becker and Crow Wing counties in northern and central Minnesota also reported damage associated with severe weather and tornado activity.
“The severe storms and floods that swept across southern Minnesota earlier this summer inflicted irreparable damage and loss,” Walz said in announcing the assistance.
He thanked state emergency-management personnel and local governments for evaluating the damage and coordinating recovery efforts.
Minnesota’s disaster-assistance system can help local governments cover eligible costs when damages exceed what a county can reasonably manage through its regular budget.
Residents seeking individual assistance should contact their county emergency-management office or visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s emergency-management resources for information about available programs.
Details about the six-county authorization were reported by KSTP. State emergency information is available from Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
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