Northwest Iowa — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has submitted an appeal letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or FEMA) asking it to reconsider its denial of her request for federal assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses in Dickinson and three other counties that were affected by flooding and severe weather from June 6 to July 2, 2018.
Reynolds says that Iowa officials have provided FEMA with additional information that more clearly outlines the tremendous impact this disaster has had on Iowa citizens. She says she is asking that they grant her request to make this assistance available to Iowans who are in need.
On August 22nd, 2018, the governor received notification from FEMA that it had denied her request to activate the federal Individual Assistance Program in Buchanan, Dickinson, Polk, and Winnebago counties. Individual Assistance funding provides disaster survivors with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services. In its denial letter, FEMA said it had determined the impact to individuals and households was not of such severity and magnitude to warrant a designation of Individual Assistance.
She says since then, Iowa and local officials have been able to document a substantial increase in the number of homes that sustained major damage from the flooding. She says that in the appeal, Iowa officials presented a much clearer picture of the true impact of the flooding on citizens and communities, as well as the cumulative effect this disaster and the July tornadoes have had on our state.
The FEMA Individual Assistance program, for homeowners, renters and businesses, can include grants and low-interest loans to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs, and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs.
