Branstad seeks presidential disaster declaration for September flooding

DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad signed a letter Friday asking President Obama to issue a presidential disaster declaration for public assistance as a result of damage sustained in 19 Iowa counties from last month’s severe storms and flooding.

The governor’s request did not include activation of the federal Individual assistance program as the damage incurred to private homes during flooding did not meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) criteria.

Iowa counties included in Branstad’s request were Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Howard, Linn, Mitchell, Winneshiek and Wright.

John Benson, communications bureau chief in the Iowa Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, said the damage estimates compiled by FEMA, state and local officials of $22,045,302 ranked this year’s Cedar River flooding as the seventh worst weather disaster dating back to 1990, Benson noted. Two other counties — Black Hawk and Butler — had public infrastructure damages exceeding $1 million.

Read more: http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/branstad-seeks-presidential-disaster-declaration-for-september-flooding/article_9c0c5ab5-2bdb-5a8a-9db7-92d5bea0b771.html