Sheldon, Iowa — State, federal, and local agencies, along with several farming industry groups, will be hosting a single-day Agriculture Recovery Center on Tuesday, August 27th at the Sheldon Community Service Center in Sheldon.
The center will be open that day from 12 Noon until 8:00 pm.
Officials say resources will be available to assist farmers in the region impacted by flooding and storm damage.
The walk-through event, designed as a resource fair, will provide information on addressing agricultural or rural needs that are not covered by standard programs offered by FEMA or the state of Iowa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Iowa Insurance Division and other government agencies are working with industry organizations such as Iowa Pork Producers, Iowa Soybean and Iowa Cattlemen to ensure unmet needs are identified and resources are shared.
Meanwhile, O’Brien County Emergency Management Director Jared Johnson asks that if you know anyone that still needs to register for FEMA individual assistance, to direct them to go to the Disaster Recovery Center in Sheldon. As of now, Johnson says the DRC in Sheldon is set to close on Thursday, August 22nd. But an extension has been requested through the Department of Homeland Security to keep the DRC in Sheldon open for an additional week (until August 30th). Johnson says he has not heard back from Iowa Homeland Security about the extension request. He does say that even after the DRC in Sheldon closes, individuals may still continue to register online, via phone, or go to another DRC.
In regard to FEMA Individual Assistance and the Small Business Administration deadline, Johnson says the State of Iowa submitted a request to FEMA to extend the FEMA Individual Assistance and SBA registration deadline. The new deadline for FEMA Individual Assistance and SBA registration is October 22nd.
Johnson says he has also received multiple questions over FEMA appeals. He tells us that with the large number of registrations and casework, it may take FEMA 30-90 days to look at the appeal paperwork if someone chooses to appeal an eligibility decision or a funding assistance decision made by FEMA. For more information, click here: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/after-applying/appeals
