Governor Tim Pawlenty yesterday declared a State of Emergency in Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Kittson, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lyon, Marshall, Nicollet, Norman, Polk, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Scott, Sibley, Swift, Traverse, Washington, Wilkin, Wright, and Yellow Medicine to protect property and infrastructure from damage due to flooding. By his executive order, the Governor is activating the Minnesota National Guard to assist in flood preparations and to provide emergency relief services. The Governor’s executive order also directs the Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to activate the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan and to continue on-site support and assistance to the affected local governments. In addition, all state agencies, in cooperation with appropriate federal agencies, are directed to provide the assistance necessary to help respond to and recover from this emergency.