GREENFIELD, Iowa — President Joe Biden has approved Iowa's request for a Major Disaster Declaration following destructive tornadoes on Tuesday that killed five people and left entire towns in ruin.
The declaration covers four Iowa counties where significant damage occurred. With Biden's approval, residents of Adair, Polk, Story and Montgomery County could be eligible for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program or U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loans.
Biden's approval comes just one day after Gov. Kim Reynolds requested an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration Thursday.
“I want [to] thank President Biden for expediting my request for federal assistance, and I greatly appreciate the responsiveness of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who was with me yesterday in Greenfield to assess the catastrophic damage caused by Tuesday’s tornadoes,” Reynolds said in a statement. “This assistance is critical to Iowa's recovery process.”
202 homes across the state were destroyed, Reynolds said Thursday. That number includes 153 homes in Adair County, 26 in Polk County, 15 in Story County and eight in Montgomery County.
In signing the declaration, Biden allowed the Iowa Workforce Development to make Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) available to Iowans who are currently unemployed or without work due to the severe weather in four more counties.
Eligibility criteria requires applicants be:
- Unemployed or self-unemployed worker whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President
- A U.S. national or a qualified alien
- Unable to qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state
- Working, self-employed in or scheduled to begin work or self-employment
- Able to prove that work or self-employment was their main source of income
For more information on how to apply, click here.
Donna Duberke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, added that the three tornadoes identified in the area on May 21 totaled a path of 130 miles.
Residents and business owners in the four covered counties can apply for assistance by registering online or calling 1-800-621-3362.
Homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits who were affected by the disaster may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration. To apply, contact the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit this website.
Aside from federal assistance, Reynolds has also issued a Disaster Emergency Proclamation for the following counties:
- Adair
- Adams
- Black Hawk
- Buena Vista
- Butler
- Cass
- Calhoun
- Cedar
- Cerro Gordo
- Clay
- Clinton
- Dubuque
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Harrison
- Humboldt
- Iowa
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Johnson
- Keokuk
- Kossuth
- Marion
- Marshall
- Mills
- Montgomery
- Muscatine
- O'Brien
- Page
- Palo Alto
- Polk
- Pottawattamie
- Scott
- Shelby
- Story
- Tama
- Union
- Warren
- Washington
- Wright
The proclamation allows for grants up to $5,000 for qualifying individuals. Click here to read more about eligibility criteria and to apply for assistance.