Federal disaster aid sought for flooded Florida farms

Author: the associated press
Published:
MGN

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) – State officials are asking the federal government to declare a large part of South Florida a disaster area due to flooding that ruined crops.

Heavy rain triggered the flooding across southern Miami-Dade County last week.

Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare the area a disaster so farmers can apply for relief, including loans.

The Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/1QqqQgE ) reports farmers say they’ve lost millions in crops. But the final tally is still being calculated.

The area was hit with heavy rain starting Dec. 3. The newspaper reports that water managers started lowering water levels in canals, clearing vegetation and manning pumps. But the system backed up when another round of rain hit two days later.

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