Press Release Archive
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Governor Culver Announces New Counties Added To Presidential Disaster Declaration
DES MOINES -- Today, Governor Chet Culver announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved 6 new counties for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for individual assistance, and 14 new counties for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for public assistance.
“I want to thank the federal government for approving these new counties for federal assistance,” said Governor Culver. “Earlier today, I reiterated my request to President Bush to declare all 83 counties that I have declared a state disaster area to be covered by a Presidential Disaster Declaration. These declarations are vital to helping Iowans get back on their feet. As Governor, I am committed to rebuilding Iowa. And with the strength, resilience, and determination of Iowans, I am confident we can.”
The declaration comes just one day after Governor Culver and state homeland security officials toured flood damage in southeast Iowa, and made stops in Lee County.
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
FEMA approved the following counties for individual assistance: Hancock, Kossuth, Lee, Madison, Marshall, and Wapello.
They join the following counties, which were previously covered under a Presidential Disaster Declaration for individual assistance: Jasper, Mahaska, Mills, Monona, Chickasaw, Crawford, Warren, Allamakee, Des Moines, Fremont, Harrison, Clayton, Adams, Cedar, Jones, Louisa, Muscatine, Polk, Winneshiek, Benton, Bremer, Black Hawk, Butler, Buchanan, Cerro Gordo, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Hardin, Johnson, Linn, Marion, Page, Story, Tama and Union.
Individual Assistance allows homeowners, renters, business owners and non-profit organizations to recover from the effects of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 25 and continues.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
FEMA approved the following counties for Public Assistance: Benton, Bremer, Cass, Cedar, Clinton, Decatur, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Mahaska, Montgomery, Poweshiek, and Wapello.
These counties join the following counties, which were previously covered under a Presidential Disaster Declaration for public assistance: Allamakee, Fayette, Johnson, Jones, Page, Adair, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Madison, Taylor, Webster, Adams, Linn, Winneshiek, Grundy, Howard, Iowa, Marshall, Mitchell, Ringgold, Worth, Wright, Clayton, Black Hawk, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Dubuque, Floyd, Franklin, Marion, Story, Tama and Union.
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.