President signs Iowa disaster declaration to make aid available

President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster exists in Linn County and 18 other Iowa counties and has ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of Sept. 21 to Oct. 3.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding.

The presidential declaration applies to the counties of Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Howard, Linn, Mitchell, Winneshiek, and Wright.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.