Gov. Terry E. Branstad today received notification that President Obama has authorized a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for six counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds that occurred on April 9th and 10th, 2011.
The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to Buena Vista, Cherokee, Ida, Monona, Pocahontas, and Sac counties under the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance program funds are available to public entities and select nonprofit agencies to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts, and other public facilities, and to cover costs of emergency work and debris removal during the storms.
“I am pleased to see the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for these six counties came through,” Branstad said. “This will provide Iowans the resources we will need to recover from this recent round of tornados and severe weather.”
This follows on to the announcement earlier today that the Small Business Administration had issued a disaster declaration for several Iowa counties. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available to citizens and businesses in the Iowa counties of Buena Vista, Calhoun, Clay, Crawford, Harrison, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Monona, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster and Woodbury and the neighboring Nebraska counties of Burt and Thurston.
The Governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.
On April 26th, Governor Branstad requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for 6 counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds that occurred on April 9th and 10th, 2011.
