Grant funding offered to flood victims

While significant amounts of damage due to flooding earlier this month have not been reported in Washington or Henry counties, the emergency management coordinators of both counties want residents to have the option to apply for state funding.

On Monday, Oct. 22, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation allowing state resources to be used in both counties to respond to severe weather that occurred Oct. 4. According to the proclamation, residents of the counties who have sustained damages from flooding can qualify for grants of up to $5,000 from the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program through the Iowa Disaster Case Management Program. Grant applications and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

'When I reached out to the state, they told me we didn't need a local disaster declaration to be able to get assistance for individuals who have been impacted by flooding,” Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen said. 'They added us to the list of other counties who have had issues.”

Reisen said the more residents who get assistance from the state, the more likely the state will be able to get federal assistance. She also said she hadn't received many reports of damage from flooding, saying she had only given out sandbags to one person in Kalona who was able to fend off damage. She said the areas that were impacted in Washington County are rural, but that people impacted were significantly impacted. She said grants can be given as reimbursement for damaged items or to assist if a citizen or family needed to relocate during the flooding.

Henry County Emergency Management Coordinator Walt Jackson said he 'wanted to cover our bases” when he asked that Henry County be put on the list. He added he hadn't received many reports of damage.

'We have done quite a bit of mitigation over the years,” he explained. 'We wanted to make sure people had the option.”

Disaster Care Management is a program to address serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury, or condition. Disaster case managers work with clients to create disaster recovery plans and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain services or resources. There are no income eligibility requirements for the program.

People wanting more information can contact Reisen at (319) 653-7794 or go online to the Iowa Department of Human Services website.