Governor Terry E. Branstad today issued a proclamation activating the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for five counties in eastern Iowa in the wake of recent storms and flooding.Counties included in the proclamation are Cedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott, and Washington. Beginning April 17, heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding caused significant damage to private property.The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three.Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov. Applications must be received within 45 days.

PROCLAMATION OF DISASTER EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, on April 17, 2013 and continuing thereafter, severe storm systems affected the state of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, these storm systems spawned severe weather, including heavy rains, thunderstorms, flash flooding, and flooding and caused significant damage to private property; and

WHEREAS, the following five (5) Iowa counties suffered significant damages from this event: Cedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott, and Washington County; and

WHEREAS, reports forwarded by the county emergency management coordinators in the affected counties and others to the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department indicate that local resources and capacities have been exhausted and that state assistance and resources are needed to respond to and recover from the effects of this event; and

WHEREAS, surveys and reports forwarded by the local emergency management coordinator and other officials in the affected counties to the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department indicate that state individual assistance pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.20A and 441 Iowa Admin. Code 58.2(1) is needed to assist certain individuals and families adversely affected by the disaster who otherwise cannot be helped by other means of financial assistance and for whom federal assistance under the Stafford Act is either not available or does not adequately meet the needs of the citizens in the disaster area; and

WHEREAS, these conditions have threatened the public peace, health, and safety of citizens of the State of Iowa and have damaged and destroyed public and private property. Because of this, they provide legal justification for the issuance of a Proclamation of a State of Disaster Emergency pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(1).

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TERRY E. BRANSTAD, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by the Iowa Constitution Art. IV, §§ 1, 8 and Iowa Code § 29C.6(1), and all other applicable laws, do hereby proclaim a STATE OF DISASTER EMERGENCY for the following five (5) Iowa counties: Cedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott, and Washington and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

SECTION ONE. As required by Iowa Code §§ 29C.6(1),(10) and 42 U.S.C. § 5170 in cases of presidential disaster declarations, this Proclamation of Disaster Emergency activates the disaster response and recovery aspect of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department’s Iowa Emergency Response Plan and those additional response plans applicable to the counties affected by this disaster and authorizes the use and deployment of all available state resources, supplies, equipment, and materials as are reasonably necessary to assist those citizens located in the disaster counties.

SECTION TWO. I authorize the Iowa Department of Human Services under the terms and conditions as allowed by Iowa law to render individual disaster assistance to eligible residents of the counties affected by this disaster. Iowa Code § 29C.20A and 441 Iowa Admin. Code 58.2(1).

SECTION THREE. This state of disaster emergency shall be effective on April 17, 2013, shall continue for thirty (30) days, and shall expire on May 17, 2013, unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me. Iowa Code § 29C.6(1).

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of the State of Iowa to be affixed at Des Moines, Iowa this nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen.
__________________________________
TERRY E. BRANSTAD
GOVERNOR OF IOWA

ATTEST:
_________________________________
MATT SCHULTZ
SECRETARY OF STATE