WASHINGTON — From the White House:
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Minnesota and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm during the period of April 9-11, 2013.
Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, and Rock.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
The storm in question dropped a manageable 6 inches of snow on the Twin Cities, but it covered southwestern Minnesota in a thick coating of ice (here's an MPR photo gallery). Gov. Mark Dayton declared a disaster shortly afterward, and President Obama followed suit on Friday.
This is the first time Minnesota's long-lingering winter has spawned a federal disaster declaration. The state last got disaster aid following severe flooding in June.
Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.