The Disaster Cycle
Disaster response starts in the affected community or communities. Each county in Iowa has a county emergency management coordinator who facilitates local government and volunteer response operations such as sandbagging, cleanup efforts, and sheltering for families affected by the disaster. When a community’s ability to respond to a disaster exceeds its capabilities, the county emergency management coordinator will work with local officials and the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division to request a Governor’s State of Emergency Disaster Proclamation, which enables state resources to be used. State resources include equipment, personnel, technical guidance, supplies, and assistance in the form of debris removal, traffic control, levee patrol, security, and transportation. Over 200 Governor’s State of Emergency Disaster Proclamations have been issued since 1983.
When a disaster goes beyond the capabilities of the State, the Governor may request federal assistance through a Presidential Disaster Declaration. When a Presidential Disaster Declaration is granted, the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies to coordinate and deliver aid to affected Iowans, beginning the recovery process.