Ten Additional Iowa Counties Will Receive FEMA Assistance After Derecho

Governor Reynolds sent out a press release Tuesday stating that ten additional counties that were impacted by the August 10 derecho got the approval to receive aid from the Federal Emergency Managment Agency (FEMA).

The ten new counties that have been added include Benton, Boone, Cedar, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, and Tama. Individuas and business owners can now apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program that "can provide disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, and medical expenses." Linn County was the first to be approved for the assistance on August 20, after the derecho devastated the area leaving behind a widespread path of damage.

The damage to homes, businesses, and trees was so vast that the City of Cedar Rapids stated the first round of debris pickup in the area could take another month to be complete. That's despite the fact that crews are working long days to get things cleaned up. We appreciate everyone working hard to get our city back to normal. That includes volunteers and organizations helping those affected by the storm.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program is no longer available in counties approved for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program. Residents in approved counties can apply for the aid online at" DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362." We'll continue to keep you updated with the latest resource information.