Friday, December 21, 2007
Governor Culver Adds 7 Counties To Ice Disaster Proclamation
30 counties now proclaimed disaster areas
(Des Moines) Today, Governor Chet Culver, after reviewing storm assessments from across Iowa, has proclaimed seven additional counties disaster areas following last week’s ice and winter storms. Counties included in the latest disaster proclamation are: Adair, Clinton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Madison, and Montgomery.
Issuing an emergency proclamation is a procedural step that allows state resources to be deployed to local communities affected by the storm and allows these counties to be included in a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Damage assessment teams were concluding their on-site work today and expect to have the request for the President ready next week.
The proclamation makes available Iowa's individual disaster assistance program for people with low incomes. Iowans with household incomes of up to 130 percent of federal poverty guidelines may apply for a grant of up to $3,300 to help recover from storm damage. The Governor emphasized that this is a reimbursement program, meaning that applicants must include receipts when applying for help.
The grant application and step-by-step instructions on how to fill it out are found on the front page of the Department of Human Services website: dhs.iowa.gov. Look for the words "Storm Help” or individuals can call toll-free (877) 937-3663 to find out more.
The seven counties proclaimed today join the following 23 counties as state disaster areas: Appanoose, Adams, Cedar, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Jefferson, Keokuk, Linn, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington and Wayne.