Authorized FEMA public disaster aid to top $1 billion

DES MOINES – Federal financial help authorized to rebuild public infrastructure damaged by last year's weather-related disasters in Iowa likely will top $1 billion by the end of June, a state official said Monday.

Currently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved or obligated $650 million for thousands of Iowa projects and the figure is projected to climb above $1.1 billion before the state's 2009 fiscal year ends June 30.

That according to Patrick Hall, grant management bureau chief with the state office of homeland security, who presented updated disaster recovery data to the Iowa Executive Council.

To date, Hall said $225.4 million in federal assistance and more than $666,000 in state matching funds have been distributed for public assistance projects in 84 eligible Iowa counties. He noted that donated resources used as local matching resources on 230 projects have saved the state nearly $6.5 million.

Iowa has requested that FEMA waive the 10 percent match requirement for debris removal and emergency protective measures under the public assistance program, but has not received a response, he said.

In a separate category, Hall said current projections for public assistance funding for communities cover the demolition of 1,736 structures statewide – 1,032 related to voluntary flood plain acquisitions and 704 related to public health and safety factors. Between 70 percent and 90 percent are projected for completion this calendar year, he added.