Branstad requests Presidential Disaster Declaration for 19 Iowa counties

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad signed a letter Wednesday to be delivered to President Barack Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 19 Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, hail and thunderstorms last month.

The counties included in the disaster request stemming from inclement weather June 20-25 were Allamakee, Appanoose, Butler, Clayton, Dallas, Davis, Des Moines, Guthrie, Howard, Jefferson, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Mitchell, Monroe, Warren, Wayne, Winneshiek and Wright.

The governor requested funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program, which is used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities to cover costs of emergency work and debris removal during and after the storms.

A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the 19 counties found the severe weather caused an estimated $5.1 million worth of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program. The governor also requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.