(KIWA Staff Photo)Northwest Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Northwest Iowa counties, cities, and school districts will receive more than $16 million through two rounds of federal funding for storm recovery, flood mitigation, and future emergency preparedness.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s office announced the awards in two separate releases. The first includes nearly $17.5 million statewide for damage and recovery costs tied to severe storms in 2020, 2024, and 2025. The second provides more than $9.1 million through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
The northwest Iowa awards listed in the two announcements total $16,132,169.45.
Grassley said the funding reflects Iowa communities’ resilience following multiple severe storms and emphasized that moving federal dollars quickly helps local governments continue recovery work. He also said he will continue pushing in Washington to ensure Iowa receives needed resources.
Lyon and Sioux Counties Receive Largest Regional Shares
Lyon County recipients will receive more than $5.87 million.
Seven awards totaling more than $5.36 million will support Lyon County Secondary Roads projects involving bridges, culverts, pipes, and related components damaged by severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes. That includes nearly $1.4 million for permanent repairs to the Riverside 13W Bridge, which FEMA says was destroyed when high-velocity floodwater carried away the bridge’s superstructure and deck.
The Lyon County Fair Association will receive $515,431.57 for repairs or replacements involving buildings, contents, road surfaces, and guardrails.
Sioux County-related awards total nearly $3.45 million. Sioux County Secondary Roads will receive $572,625 for bridge-related repairs or replacement.
Four additional grants totaling more than $2.87 million will allow Sioux County to acquire seven residential structures substantially damaged by flooding and cover project-management costs.
Rock Valley, Spencer, Cherokee and Estherville Projects
The City of Rock Valley will receive more than $2.6 million to cover eligible emergency-response costs from the June 2024 flooding, including volunteer labor and donated equipment used for sandbagging, evacuations, rescue operations, and debris cleanup.
The Rock Valley Community School District will receive $150,746.74 for protective measures taken to reduce threats to public health, safety, and property. Together, the city and school district awards total more than $2.75 million.
The City of Spencer will receive more than $1 million to remove properties substantially damaged by storms and flooding. The Spencer Community School District will receive $613,809.42 for costs tied to managing its Public Assistance grants.
Cherokee will receive $298,009.50 for repairs or replacement of road surfaces, bases, and embankments damaged by severe weather.
Estherville will receive $133,600 for property acquisitions, elevations, mitigation reconstruction, and floodproofing.
Clay County Secondary Roads will receive $101,250 to repair or replace bridge approaches, decks, and guardrails.
Sioux City and Correctionville Included in Regional Funding
Sioux City will receive more than $1.2 million for permanent repairs to its wastewater treatment plant. FEMA says flooding and increased debris intake severely damaged equipment at the facility.
Correctionville will receive $673,784.83 for property acquisition, elevations, mitigation reconstruction, and floodproofing.
Statewide Management Funding and Other Beneficiaries
Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management will receive $542,509.13 for management costs associated with severe storms.
Other beneficiaries listed in the two announcements include:
- Grinnell Regional Medical Center
- The cities of Minden, Slater, Newton, Urbandale, Grimes, and Redfield
- Several drainage districts
- The Polk County Conservation Board
- Monona County Secondary Roads
- Emergency-management agencies in Dallas and Jasper counties
The two rounds of FEMA awards provide more than $26.6 million in combined funding statewide.
