Des Moines, Iowa — O’Brien County is now included in the federal disaster area. Two other nearby counties have also been added.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced the approval of Buena Vista, Cherokee and O’Brien Counties for Individual Assistance under the previously approved Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA DR-4796-IA, for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that started on June 16, 2024, and continuing.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program is already activated for Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties.
O’Brien County Emergency Management Agency Director Jared Johnson says, “Thank you for submitting your damage data and reporting information to O’Brien County EMA. This disaster has impacted thousands of people in the NW Iowa area. This approval is a major step to help with recovery. Thank you!”
Johnson says that there will be several Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) Teams in the area going door to door. (There are multiple teams in the NW Iowa Area.) He says FEMA staff will have a FEMA ID that they will wear on a lanyard around their neck. Please ask to see the ID.
There are a number of ways to get a hold of FEMA. Johnson says you can call FEMA’s hotline at 800-621-3362, visit www.disasterassistance.gov; download the FEMA App, go to one of the open Disaster Recovery Centers at either the Rock Valley City Park Shelter House at 1013 13th Avenue in Rock Valley (Hours: 8 am to 6 pm every day until further notice) or at the Clay County Regional Events Center – Tower Gate Pavilion on the Clay County Fairgrounds at 800 W 18th Street in Spencer. (Hours: 8 am to 6 pm every day until further notice)
Johnson also tells us additional Disaster Recovery Centers may be opened in the future.
