Biden OK’s major disaster declaration after Iowa floods

President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Iowa as floodwaters have pummeled the northwest portion of the state for days.

With the announcement, federal funding is available to affected individuals in the counties of Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth and Sioux.

"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the statement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.

Aid is available through disasterassistance.gov or at 1-800-621-3362.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who toured disaster areas Monday in Hawarden, Rock Rapids, Rock Valley and Spencer, said she will continue to request additional counties as more information is collected.

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who represents Western Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, accompanied Reynolds on the Monday tour and said in a statement he welcomes Biden's major disaster declaration.

"This decision will help our families recover, our businesses keep their doors open, and our communities rebuild. I will continue to work with Governor Reynolds and our partners at the federal level to secure relief for more communities in more counties that were impacted by severe flooding,“ he said.

According to the declaration from Biden, "Federal funding is also available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux counties."

Hawarden, Rock Rapids, Rock Valley and Spencer all saw record-high crests of rivers in their respective area and floodwaters are slowly receding. The latest flood warning concerns in Iowa are in the counties of Monona and Woodbury as evacuations have taken place in several towns.