Governor Branstad requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for 47 counties
Branstad also activates Iowa Individual Assistance Program for two counties
June 19 - Today, Governor Terry E. Branstad signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster declaration for 47 Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy rains and thunderstorms resulting in severe flooding beginning May 19 and continuing through June 23, 2013.
The governor is making the request for federal Public Assistance Program funding for the counties of Appanoose, Benton, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Clayton, Crawford, Davis, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hardin, Henry, Ida, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lyon, Mahaska, Marshall, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, O’Brien, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Poweshiek, Sac, Sioux, Story, Tama, Wapello, Webster, Winnebago and Wright.
A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the 47 counties found severe weather caused an estimated $22 million worth of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance funds may be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during, and debris removal after the storms.
Iowa Individual Assistance Program activated in two counties
In addition to requesting the Presidential Disaster Declaration, Gov. Branstad also activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program in Lee and Webster counties.
The Governor originally declared the counties disaster counties on June 7. Both proclamations are a result of storms and flooding that began in the state on May 19.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.
More Recent News
Applicant briefings scheduled in Chariton, Ottumwa and Iowa City
June 12 - There are 19 counties eligible for applying for public assistance at this time as a result of Presidential Disaster Declaration 4119, which was signed on May 31, 2013: Appanoose, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Muscatine, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.
There will be three applicant briefings for prospective applicants. The first is today, Wednesday, June 12, at 1:30 p.m., for prospective applicants in Appanoose, Decatur, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Warren and Wayne counties. The briefing will be held at the Lucas County Conservation Commission in Chariton.
The second briefing will be Tuesday, June 18, at 10 a.m., for prospective applicants in Davis, Des Moines, Keokuk, Lee, Van Buren and Wapello counties. The briefing will be held at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.
The third briefing will be held Thursday, June 20, at 10 a.m., for prospective applicants in Cedar, Clinton, Iowa, Johnson and Muscatine counties. The briefing will be held at Johnson County Emergency Management in Iowa City.
Click here for more on Disaster 4119 and these applicant briefings...
Governor Branstad issues Disaster Proclamation for Five Iowa Counties
June 7, 2013 - Today, Governor Terry E. Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for five additional counties in response to recent storms and flooding.
The Governor declared a disaster in Appanoose, Lee, Muscatine, Wayne and Webster counties.
In addition, the Governor has activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program in Fayette and Muscatine counties.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.
Click here to view the Disaster Quick Links page.
Small Business Administration assistance now available to Iowa private, nonprofit organizations
June 6, 2013 - Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private, nonprofit organizations (PNPs) in Iowa, following President Obama’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance (PA) as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred from April 17-30, 2013. PNPs that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.
SBA disaster assistance is now available in the Iowa counties of Appanoose, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Muscatine, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne. All interested PNPs should begin the process by registering with FEMA. At the time of registration, FEMA will determine if the PNP qualifies to immediately apply for a grant from FEMA’s PA program or will be referred to SBA to apply for a low-interest federal disaster loan.
SBA may lend PNPs up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For certain private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the nonprofit suffered any property damage.
The deadline to return property damage applications is July 30, 2013.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 3, 2014.
To begin the process, register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
Governor Branstad issues Disaster Proclamation Des Moines County
June 4, 2013 - Today, Governor Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Des Moines County in response to the recent storms and flooding.
In addition, the Governor has activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for those in Greene County.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three.
Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov. Applications must be received within 45 days of the date of proclamation.
State, local and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials began conducting joint damage assessments on Monday, June 3. The damage assessments are expected to take several days to complete. The results will be used to determine if the amount of damage warrants Governor Branstad asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the most recent flooding and severe storms.
