Allamakee County is included in Presidential Disaster Declaration for Iowa following August flooding; Funding is not for homes or businesses

President Barack Obama has issued a major disaster declaration for eight counties in the state of Iowa, triggering the release of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to help Iowa recover from the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred August 23-27, 2016. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.
FEMA will provide assistance to Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek counties through the Public Assistance program. In order to request a Presidential Disaster Declaration, damage incurred must meet criteria set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs, and designed to help public entities and select non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

Area residents should be aware that these funds are not for homeowners or business owners. Public Assistance funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.

All Iowa counties are eligible to apply for assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant program. The Hazard Mitigation Grant program assists state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk from natural hazards such as flooding and other storm damage.

Assistance for the state and affected local governments through federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the state of Iowa include the following:

• 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.