Kansas City, Missouri — The federal official who recently approved millions of dollars in flood recovery assistance for northwest Iowa has been tapped to permanently lead the region’s federal emergency operations.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that Jay Van Der Werff has been appointed as the permanent Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 7. Appointed by the Trump administration, Van Der Werff took over the permanent role on Monday. He will command a team of more than 250 personnel overseeing federal disaster response across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
On July 2, Van Der Werff served as the authorizing official who approved a $22 million federal package through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to assist Rock Valley. The funding allows the City of Rock Valley to acquire and completely demolish 123 residential properties deemed uninhabitable after the catastrophic 2024 summer floods, permanently converting the land into open green space to prevent future disaster damage.
“This is great news for the community of Rock Valley and the families that were affected by the 2024 flooding,” Van Der Werff said in an official FEMA release.
Prior to his permanent appointment, Van Der Werff served as the agency’s National Preparedness Division Director in Kansas City since 2019. His background includes a 23-year active-duty career as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, alongside leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Garmin International. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a master’s degree from Liberty University, and a doctorate from Kansas State University.
