Albert Lea — Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were in Freeborn County on Thursday, and preliminary estimates show that there was about $189,708 in damages to infrastructure countywide.

This total includes estimated damages in the public infrastructure of seven townships, the cities of Albert Lea, Alden, Hartland, Freeborn, Hollandale and the county ditch authority. These are not estimates of private, individual home damages.

According to Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever, FEMA agents are collecting preliminary damage assessments from all 35 counties in Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s emergency declaration last week following heavy rains that caused widespread flooding across Southern Minnesota.

Kluever said Freeborn County estimates will be rolled into preliminary damage assessments from all 35 counties and submitted to Governor Pawlenty in coming days to determine if these counties qualify for public assistance. Please see Sunday’s Albert Lea Tribune for more information.