E. coli found in Rushford water pipes

"This effort is going to be as aggressive as possible, it's going to be as sustained as it needs to be to make sure these communities are rebuilt and our fellow Minnesotans are helped as promptly and robustly as possible," Pawlenty said.

Fillmore County officials also announced Friday that E. coli bacteria had been found in the city water in Rushford, another sign of the difficult recovery ahead. Symptoms of E. coli infection include stomach cramps and diarrhea that may turn bloody within one to three days.

The state Health Department had already warned Rushford residents that the flooding had rendered the city's water supply unsafe for drinking and should not be used for cooking, bathing or other household purposes.

Fillmore County officials said the Rushford water system was being flushed out, but was still not safe for domestic use. They said running water or flushing toilets in private homes could introduce contaminants into the home's plumbing.

Pawlenty was accompanied Friday by Sen. Norm Coleman and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator R. David Paulison, who said FEMA recovery centers would be set up in each of the three counties that were declared federal disaster areas on Thursday.

He said the centers would be set up over the weekend and should be up and running next week. The trio then left to tour Rushford.

On Thursday, President Bush signed a disaster declaration for Fillmore, Houston, and Winona counties. Flooding in those counties killed seven people and destroyed hundreds of homes.

The declaration came sooner than expected and followed a request by Pawlenty that FEMA expedite the process. Paulison said the president made the decision quickly.

"It was obvious you had significant damage," he said.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced the disaster declaration at Winona State University after flying over the flooded area in a helicopter with Pawlenty and Paulison.

Chertoff and Paulison had just come from Ohio, which also faced serious flooding this week. Federal officials are set to begin assessing damage in Ohio on Saturday.

The disaster declaration in Minnesota means people can begin registering for federal help. FEMA spokeswoman Melynda Petrie told residents in Stockton earlier in the day that after the declaration, FEMA workers would go door-to-door through the flood-damaged area to show people how to sign up for help.

Individuals can apply for help in temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, or other programs. State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations can apply for aid on a cost-sharing basis.

Pawlenty's office said FEMA officials would submit damage estimates on Friday for three other counties that had flood damage -- Wabasha, Olmsted and Steele.

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FEMA said individuals and business owners who sustained losses in Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties can begin applying for assistance on Friday by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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