Government : 10 more counties will receive FEMA individual assistance-UPDATED INFORMATION

Gov. Kim Reynolds received notification today that 10 additional counties that were impacted by the Aug. 10 derecho have been approved for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program.

Individuals and business owners in Benton, Boone, Cedar, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, and Tama counties may now apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program. FEMA Individual Assistance can provide disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, and medical expenses. Linn County was approved for Individual Assistance on Aug. 20.

Residents in the 11 counties approved for the Individual Assistance Program may apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362. TTY users can call 800-462-7585.

In her Aug. 16 request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, the governor had requested a total of 27 counties be approved for Individual Assistance. Through further assessment and validation by the state and FEMA, it was determined 16 of those counties did not have sufficient damage to be approved for the Individual Assistance Program, including nine counties which withdrew from consideration: Audubon, Clarke, Grundy, Iowa, Jackson, Jones, Madison, Muscatine, and Washington.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program is no longer available in counties where the FEMA Individual Assistance Program has been made available. Visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website at https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs for more information.

In addition, damage in eight counties is being validated prior to requesting inclusion in the FEMA Public Assistance Program, providing assistance to public entities and select nonprofit organizations. The following counties will likely be submitted in the next few days for approval for Public Assistance Program funding: Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hardin, Iowa, Jackson, Keokuk, and Washington. If approved, these counties will join the following 16 counties that were approved for Public Assistance funding on Aug. 17 by President Trump: Benton, Boone, Cedar, Clinton, Dallas, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, and Tama.

Additional information:

A Disaster Recovery Center opened in Linn County on Wednesday to give survivors options to submit documents for their disaster assistance application.

FEMA has adapted to the realities of responding during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve Iowans while protecting their safety and that of FEMA employees.

FEMA has already distributed about $1.5 million to about 500 homeowners in the Linn County area.

The DRC will not operate in a traditional fashion. The center will offer drive-through service. Survivors are asked to stay in their vehicles when visiting.

FEMA highly encourages residents to register online or by phone before visiting the site.

You can register in any of the following ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Download the FEMA Mobile App for smartphones.
• Call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
• For 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-621-3362.
• For TTY, call 800-462-7585.
  

Here's what you need to know about the Disaster Recovery Center:

• When you arrive at the DRC location, you will be asked if you have registered with FEMA. If yes, you will be directed to the appropriate lane based on your needs.
• If you have not registered with FEMA, representatives will direct you the correct lane and assist you.
• Many survivors who sustained damage from the derecho had homeowner's insurance. You are encouraged to mail or fax your insurance documents to FEMA. It is not a mandatory step to visit a DRC in order to receive assistance. However, if you don't have access to the internet or a fax machine, you can come to the recovery center and we will help you upload your documents to DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Information from the Small Business Administration will be on hand. To contact SBA, you can call 800-659-2955.
• The center is in the parking lot between Cedar Rapids Kernels Stadium and Kingston Stadium at 950 Rockford Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids. You should enter the parking lot from the corner of Veterans Memorial Drive and Kurt Warner Way.
• Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Central Time
• Closed Sundays
• The DRC will be closed Monday, September 7, 2020 in observance of Labor Day
• The DRC will be open for a limited time and staffed with FEMA personnel who can quickly answer questions about disaster assistance programs and scan documents.
• FEMA staff members will take the documents, scan them and return them to the applicants.
• No other assistance will be provided at this location.
• This location does not provide any assistance for lost food.
• All applicants and FEMA personnel will follow current state and local requirements to ensure everyone's safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Applicants must wear face masks and remain in their cars as they hand their documents to FEMA personnel, who will also wear face masks (or other appropriate face covering) and protective equipment.