Biden OKs disaster declaration after deadly Iowa tornadoes

DES MOINES — President Joe Biden on Friday approved a major disaster declaration for four Iowa counties struck this week by severe weather and tornadoes.

Gov. Kim Reynolds made the request Thursday for assistance in Adair, Polk, Story and Montgomery counties.

“I want (to) thank President Biden for expediting my request for federal assistance, and I greatly appreciate the responsiveness of (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Administrator Deanne Criswell, who was with me yesterday in Greenfield to assess the catastrophic damage caused by Tuesday’s tornadoes,” Reynolds said in a statement. “This assistance is critical to Iowa's recovery process.”

Tuesday’s tornadoes caused severe damage in Southwest and Central Iowa. In Greenfield in Adair County, four people died and dozens more were injured from an EF-4 tornado that destroyed or caused major damage to 150 homes.

A fifth person, whom authorities identified as Monica Zamarron, 46, was killed near Corning when her car was blown off the road.

“Jill and I continue to pray for those who lost their lives and the communities that have been devastated by recent tornadoes that tore through Iowa,” Biden said in a social media post Friday. “FEMA is on the ground, and today I approved additional federal assistance to help the people of Iowa recover from this tragedy. We will be there for them as long as it takes.”

The federal declaration makes federal funding available for individuals who suffered property loss, displacement or other losses in the affected counties.

Residents and businesses can apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program. Applicants can receive grants for temporary housing and home repairs, loans to cover uninsured property losses and other assistance, according to the White House. The program does not cover any losses covered by insurance.

Residents can apply at disasterassistance.gov. Alternatively, residents can call 1-800-621-3362 or use the FEMA app.

In Adair County, Biden’s order also makes public assistance grants available for local governments and some nonprofits to assist in debris removal and emergency protective measures.

Residents can also receive low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration in some cases, Reynolds said. Some businesses may be eligible to apply for working capital loans.

Residents and businesses can apply for SBA loans at sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.

The federal declaration comes as more than a third of Iowa’s counties are under state disaster proclamations after a week of dangerous and damaging weather. Reynolds issued proclamations for 10 more counties Friday after severe storms again caused damage in Eastern Iowa, bringing the total number of counties under disaster proclamations to 42.

Reynolds' latest declaration covers Calhoun, Cerro Gordo, Johnson, Keokuk, Marion, Scott, Shelby, Union, Washington and Wright counties. Impacted residents with household incomes of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line may be eligible for grants of up to $5,000. Residents can apply with the Iowa Department of Homeland Security, and applicants have 45 days to apply.

The state program is no longer available in the four counties where the federal disaster declaration has been made.

Reynolds also announced Friday that U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack approved federal disaster assistance for Iowa farmers impacted by severe weather in April. The agency will approve a Farm Service Agency Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification, which will open up emergency loan assistance for farmers in 29 counties who suffered damage in April’s severe weather. Reynolds’ office said more details will be released soon.

Grassley, Ernst visit Greenfield

Iowa's U.S. senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Republicans, met Friday with local leaders and surveyed damage and recovery efforts in Greenfield.

“My heart breaks for the Greenfield community. Witnessing the damage today has been sobering,” Ernst said in a statement. “In the midst of such devastation, Senator Grassley and I saw true Iowa resilience: neighbors helping neighbors and communities coming together in the midst of hardship."