Washington County has been added to Governor Kim Reynolds’ disaster proclamation issued following the severe storm that hit Iowa on Monday causing widespread damage. Under the proclamation, state resources can be used to respond to and recover from the effects of the storm. It also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents and the Disaster Case Management Program.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level. That’d be a maximum income of $43,440 for a family of three. Grants can help with home or car repairs, replacing clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts will be needed for reimbursement. Applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to file a claim.
The Disaster Case Management program addresses serious needs to overcome hardship, injury, or adverse conditions following a disaster. There are no income eligibility requirements and it closes 180 days from the date of the proclamation.
Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen explains it partners people up with a disaster case manager who helps create a recovery plan, “They really work as a one-stop shop for finding all of the resources that you might need after you’ve experienced a disaster. So, I’ve got some friends in the Cedar Rapids area who, you know, trees fell in their yard, on their car, on their homes, so that disaster case manager can help coordinate and get them in touch with all the right insurance companies, and the right repair shops, and the right home contractors to help them get everything, so that they don’t have to figure out who all they need to call to fix everything that might be broken.”
Iowans impacted by the severe weather are asked to report damage to property, roads, utilities, and other storm-related information to authorities so officials can better understand the damage sustained. The proclamation includes Washington, Iowa, Johnson, Dallas, Marshall, Story, Benton, Cedar, Clarke, Greene, Hardin, Jasper, Linn, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Boone, and Clinton counties.