Flood Recovery in Iowa

This comes from Iowa State Rep. Elesha Gayman's (D-Davenport) newsletter:

FLOOD RECOVERY UNDERWAY

Now that the waters have receded, the heart breaking task of clean up and damage assessment is underway. Last week, House Speaker Pat Murphy, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other Legislators joined Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Representatives in viewing the damage in those two cities. Murphy and McCarthy both indicated that what one sees on television does not begin to show the extent of damage that occurred in those areas of the state.

Deadline Extension for Aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted an extension of the filing deadline to apply for federal individual assistance. Iowans will now have until September 27 to apply for help. Governor Chet Culver had asked FEMA Director David Paulison for the 60-day extension due to the magnitude of the disaster.

This week, eight additional Iowa counties - Clinton, Decatur, Dubuque, Greene, Keokuk, Pottawattamie, Van Buren, and Washington - were granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. Sixty-two counties in Iowa have now been approved for Individual Assistance, which allows eligible homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations to recover from the effects of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 25. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses can apply for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.

In addition, 77 counties across the state have been approved for Public Assistance. Public Assistance funds pay the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. A series of applicant briefings will be held for local officials to explain the application process.

*************************************************************

REBUILD IOWA

Governor Culver and Legislative Leaders agreed to the appointment of a special committee to help direct rebuilding efforts in Iowa. The Rebuild Iowa Advisory Committee will be chaired by General Ron Dardis, who currently serves as Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard. The other 14 members represent a broad spectrum of Iowans from across the state. The commission will report to the Governor and to the Legislature within 45 days of the first meeting. This report will include an assessment of the storms’ impact on the state - including on people, schools, businesses, and private and public infrastructure - and recommend initial steps the legislative and executive branches can take to assist in recovery.

The commission will develop a comprehensive long-term vision for rebuilding a safer, stronger, and better Iowa. The commission will continue to advise on the state’s ongoing recovery efforts at the federal, state and local levels, and assess progress towards meeting the rebuilding vision. The commission will also be able to create and appoint ongoing task forces focused on specific issues, and, as necessary, develop further recommendations in these areas in order to support a strategic recovery process.