~ $35 to $135 fees will be waived for one year in seven county disaster area ~

Saint Paul – Governor Pawlenty today directed the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to waive electrical inspection permit fees for residents of southeast Minnesota who are rebuilding their homes following the devastating flash floods earlier this month.

Homeowners will not have to pay the $35 to $135 state fees if they are eligible for repairs or reconstruction of their homes under the current FEMA Individual and Household grant program. The fees will be waived for permit applications received by DLI within one year of the date of the Presidential Disaster Declaration that covers Fillmore, Winona, Houston, Steele, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Dodge counties.

“I’m committed to cutting through red tape and finding every possible way to help Minnesotans recover from these floods,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Waiving these state inspection fees is one small way we can help people keep some extra money in their pockets. We know it’s not a lot, but as I’ve heard during my visits to the region over the past week and a half, every bit helps.”

Under Minnesota law, (Minnesota Statutes 12.38) the Governor may approve a temporary wavier of state agency fees within a presidentially declared disaster area. Other inspection related fees imposed by local units of government are not subject to this waiver.

According to estimates by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, severe flooding on August 18-19 resulted in approximately $67 million in damage to private property and public infrastructure in southeastern Minnesota. About 1,500 homes in the area sustained some damage and about 300 were destroyed.

Following an expedited request by Governor Pawlenty, the presidential disaster declaration made funds available funds from a number of federal programs. FEMA disaster assistance includes aid to individuals and households, aid to public and certain private non-profit entities for emergency services and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities, and funding for measures designed to reduce future losses to public and private property.

The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is a combined FEMA and State program. This program provides money and services to people in the declared area whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance. In every case, the disaster victim must register for assistance and establish eligibility. Homeowner assistance from FEMA is capped at $28,200, though other loans and grants may be available.

Yesterday, Governor Pawlenty announced that southeastern Minnesota flood victims will receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development. The DUA program provides temporary income assistance to workers and self-employed individuals whose work has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of recent flooding.

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