Presidential Disaster Declaration following June storms results in federal aid for Allamakee County

by Bob Beach

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Iowa to supplement state and local recovery efforts  in areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding during the period of June 14-23.
The presidential disaster declaration makes federal funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in Allamakee, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, and Wright  counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Michael L. Parker has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Parker said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour reported that storms in late June were responsible for approximately $240,000 in damages to the county's secondary roads. He said that repair consisted primarily of replacement of rip-rap and fill around culverts and bridges, as well as some repair of gravel roads.
Allamakee County Emergency Management Director Chris Dahlstrom said that the City of Waterville reported an estimated $20,000 in damages to public infrastructure, including roads, and Allamakee County Conservation reported minor damage in County parks.
No damages were reported by the City of Waukon, but City Clerk Diane Sweeney said that the City Council continues to look for sources of funding for flood mitigation projects.
Assistance for the state and affected local governments can include, as required:
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis.
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly-owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities.
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.
Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other participating federal agencies.

Low-interest federal disaster loans are also available to certain private, non-profit organizations (PNPs) in Iowa through the Small Business Administration (SBA). PNPs that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.
"PNP organizations should contact the HSEMD (Home Security and Emergency Management Department)Public Information Officer at 515-725-3231 or via email at HSEMDPIO@iowa.gov to obtain information about local briefings. At the briefings, PNP representatives will need to provide information about their organization," said Tanya N. Garfield, Director of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center-West. FEMA will use that information to determine if the PNP provides an "essential governmental service" and is a "critical facility" as defined by law. If so, FEMA may provide the PNP with a Public Assistance grant for their eligible costs. If not, FEMA may refer the PNP to SBA for disaster loan assistance.
SBA may lend PNPs up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For certain private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster's impact. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the nonprofit suffered any property damage.
The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is September 22, 2014. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 24, 2015. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339. For more information about SBA's disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.