President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. approved a major disaster declaration for the state of Iowa on June 25, 2024, following severe storms and flooding that affected several counties in the state. The disaster declaration makes federal funding available to individuals and local governments for recovery efforts in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux counties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide assistance to affected individuals in the form of grants for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Business owners can also apply for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA).
The storms, which began on or after June 16, caused significant damage to homes and businesses in the affected areas. The Iowa National Guard was deployed for rescue missions and Homeland's Urban Search and Rescue teams were also called in to assist with water rescues. According to reports, at least 1,900 properties were impacted by the flooding with hundreds destroyed.
The governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, submitted a request for an expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration earlier in the weekend and additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by damage assessments. The situation is far from over as forecasts call for more rain this week and flooding could continue to impact other parts of the state.
Individuals who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. Business owners and individuals can also contact SBA for disaster assistance information or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
State aid from the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program is no longer available in these counties, people should instead apply for FEMA's Individual Assistance Program.
FEMA has activated assistance in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux Counties to provide funding for emergency work such as debris removal.
