Iowa Congressional Delegation Urges President to Support Federal Disaster Declaration for 19 Counties

WASHINGTON – The entire Iowa congressional delegation today urged President Obama to support Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s request to declare 19 Iowa counties a federal disaster area.  The declaration would make the counties eligible to receive federal aid for the damage inflicted by high winds, severe thunderstorms, heavy rains, hail and flash flooding and resulted in riverine flooding from Sept. 21 through Oct. 3, 2016.

“The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed,” the delegation wrote.  “In many locations, the flooding was at a near record level, second only to the flood of 2008.”

The 19 counties included in this request are Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Howard, Linn, Mitchell, Winneshiek, and Wright.

Signing the letter were Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst, Rep. Steve King, Rep. Dave Loebsack, Rep. Rod Blum and Rep. David Young. 

The signed letter is available here.  The text is copied below.

 
October 21, 2016

 
The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States of America

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

 
Dear Mr. President:

 
We respectfully ask that you grant the request made by Governor Terry Branstad for a declaration of a major disaster for the State of Iowa as a result of severe weather that produced high winds, severe thunderstorms, heavy rains, hail, flash flooding, and resulted in riverine flooding from September 21 through October 3, 2016.  This weather caused significant damage to public infrastructure and private property.  The nineteen counties included in this request are Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Howard, Linn, Mitchell, Winneshiek, and Wright.
 
The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed.  In many locations, the flooding was at a near record level, second only to the flood of 2008.

Thank you for your prompt consideration and declaration of this major disaster for the State of Iowa.

Sincerely, 
 
Senator Chuck Grassley                                         Senator Joni K. Ernst             

Representative Steve King                                     Representative David Loebsack

Representative Rod Blum                                      Representative David Young