Obama issues disaster declaration for 32 counties

President Obama has authorized a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 32 Iowa counties impacted by flooding and storms beginning June 1, 2010.

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding under the Public Assistance Program, which provides aid to public entities and select nonprofit agencies to rebuild damaged infrastructure, such as roads and bridges and other public facilities, or to cover the costs of debris removal or emergency work during storms.

The following counties will be able to apply for Public Assistance Program funding: Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Clay, Davis, Decatur, Franklin, Howard, Humboldt, Iowa, Lee, Lyon, Madison, Marion, Mills, Monroe, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Ringgold, Shelby, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Wayne, Webster and Wright.

In his request to President Obama, Gov. Culver asked for Individual Assistance Program funding, which provides assistance to home owners and small businesses, to be made available to eligible residents in 18 counties. That request is still under consideration. The 18 counties that have been requested to be included in the Individual Assistance Program include: Butler, Cherokee, Clay, Decatur, Emmet, Franklin, Hamilton, Howard, Lee, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Warren, Webster and Wright.

“Since damage assessments are continuing, including in Delaware County where the Lake Delhi dam breached on July 24, we will use the results to bolster our request that the Individual Assistance Program be activated and that additional counties be approved for Public Assistance funding and the Individual Assistance Program,” said Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division Administrator David Miller.

Teams of local, state and federal officials are currently assessing damages in 20 counties. The assessments are expected to be completed by Aug. 1.

“I am grateful the President has moved so quickly to grant our request to designate a third of our counties as disaster areas, making them eligible for public assistance,” Culver said. “There is much work to be done to help flooded communities across the state recover, and the President’s action provides some relief for the repair of public assets.

“We continue to await the federal government’s assessment of individual needs and the President’s decision regarding the eligibility of counties for federal individual assistance. In anticipation that some Iowa counties will be proclaimed as eligible for individual assistance, I have directed appropriate agencies in my Administration to put the finishing touches on a state-based assistance program similar to the successful ‘Jumpstart’ effort that moved desperately needed resources into Cedar Rapids and other communities affected by the floods of 2008.”