WASHINGTON DC (March 23, 2019) — Senator Charles "Chuck" Grassley of Iowa today said that President Donald Trump has issued an expedited major disaster declaration for 56 Iowa counties in response to severe storms and flooding which began March 12, 2019. This declaration triggers the release of federal funds to help communities in Iowa recover from the catastrophic flooding. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), additional designations may be made at a later date as further damage assessments take place.
“I thank President Trump and FEMA for moving quickly to provide a major disaster declaration for Iowa. These emergency funds will be put to good use to help communities and individuals across the state recover from this devastating flooding,” Sen Grassley said. “The massive recovery will be long, but Iowans are resilient.”
FEMA will now provide public assistance to Adair, Allamakee, Audubon, Boone, Bremer, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Decatur, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Jasper, Kossuth, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Tama, Union, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, and Wright counties through the Public Assistance Program. This program assists state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure.
Individual assistance is available to Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, and Woodbury counties through the Individual Assistance Program. This program provides financial help or direct services to private individuals who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet these needs through other means.
According to Sen Grassley, individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7AM to 10PM seven days a week until further notice. “Keep in mind it’s very important for individuals and small businesses to keep track of all receipts and invoices to document their flood-related expenses,” said Sen Grassley.
All Iowa counties are also eligible to apply for assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. This program assists state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
Sen Grassley sent a letter to President Trump asking him to promptly grant the expedited request made by Governor Kim Reynolds to declare Iowa a major disaster area. Sen Grassley also spoke with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Pete Gaynor urging expeditious approval of this much-needed federal disaster declaration and Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao regarding Iowa road conditions and damage.
Gov Reynolds announced a 24/7 call center to answer questions Iowans may have with recovery efforts and assistance. Iowans may call 211 for around-the-clock help.
Sen Grassley is providing Iowans with flood information and access to resources on his website at www.grassley.senate.gov/flooding.
Constituent specialists in Sen Grassley’s six state offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Davenport, Sioux City, and Waterloo also are available to help Iowans who may need help filling out forms or cutting red tape throughout the flood recovery.
