The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied once again the city's request for aid for people recovering from the May 22 tornado. The aid, which would help pay for things like cars ruined by the tornado and even the replacement of a person's home if it was not covered by insurance, was deemed unnecessary for the area's recovery, according to a letter from a top FEMA official that arrived Friday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied once again the city's request for aid for people recovering from the May 22 tornado.

The aid, which would help pay for things like cars ruined by the tornado and even the replacement of a person's home if it was not covered by insurance, was deemed unnecessary for the area's recovery, according to a letter from a top FEMA official that arrived Friday. Gov. Mark Dayton had requested the aid after the tornado blew through densely populated neighborhoods from St. Louis Park to Blaine, destroying dozens of houses, primarily in north Minneapolis.

The tornado damage was not bad enough to require federal assistance, in FEMA's view, with the agency saying that state and local governments, along with local volunteer organizations, should be able to handle the recovery on their own. FEMA first made that decision on June 13. The city appealed on June 21, leading to Friday's announcement.

"We are in this together for the long haul: today's decision is disappointing but will not hold North Minneapolis back," said Mayor R.T. Rybak in a statement. Though the city did not receive the so-called "individual assistance" from FEMA, it did qualify for FEMA aid to help restore public facilities which the state had estimated at $16.3 million.