Damage Assessments to be Conducted in Four Counties Following Recent Severe Storms

State of Iowa Seal

DES MOINES, Iowa – In the wake of severe weather on July 10 and 11, state, local and federal teams will conduct joint damage assessments in four counties.

The assessments will be conducted July 18 in Benton, Marshall, Story and Tama counties.

The teams, comprised of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local officials, will conduct joint preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) for the federal Public Assistance program. Data from the joint PDAs could be used by Governor Branstad to request a Presidential Disaster Declaration, which, if granted, would make Public Assistance funding available in the designated counties. In order to request a Presidential Disaster Declaration, damages incurred must meet criteria set by the federal government.

“These damage assessments are the next step in our efforts to assist Iowans and communities that were affected by the severe weather on July 10,” said HSEMD Administrator Brig Gen Derek Hill.

The Public Assistance program provides to public entities and select nonprofit agencies funding to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts, and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during and debris removal after the storms.

During the overnight hours of July 10 and into the early morning hours of July 11, a severe thunderstorm impacted Benton, Tama, Marshall and Story counties. Governor Branstad has issued disaster proclamations that have made state resources available to all four counties.

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, which is responsible for the coordination of State disaster response activities, has provided to the impacted counties the following assistance:

· Debris removal assistance to Benton, Marshall and Tama counties through the Department of Transportation

· Debris removal missions using inmates in Benton and Tama counties through the Department of Corrections

· Information regarding the disposal of debris, dump sites and sorting of debris through the Department of Natural Resources

HSEMD will continue to provide resources to the impacted counties as they continue clean-up activities.

For further information on the disaster assessment process, visit www.iowahomelandsecurity.org.