Disaster Unemployment Assistance Now Available for Iowa Counties

Iowa Workforce Development is now accepting applications for DUA from individuals in Clay, Emmet, Lyon,
Plymouth, and Sioux counties in Northwest Iowa and Adams, Cedar, and Jasper counties in Southwest Iowa.
whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to severe storms, straight-line winds,
tornadoes, and/or flooding stemming from weather that began on June 16.

DUA expands eligibility for unemployment benefits and provides assistance to the self-employed, including
business owners and farmers. Impacted individuals can start applying today. Applications for this DUA must be
filed by August 23, 2024.

For eligibility requirements and other information, visit Iowa Workforce Development’s Unemployment Benefits
Online Application System (workforce.iowa.gov).

How to apply for FEMA assistance:
• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Download and use the FEMA app
• Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)

Apply with FEMA whether or not you have insurance

Money provided by FEMA does not have to be repaid and may include:

• Serious Needs: Money for lifesaving and life-sustaining items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
• Displacement Assistance: Money you can use to stay in a hotel or motel, stay with family or friends, or for any other available housing options if you can’t return home following a disaster.
• Home Repair or Replacement: Money to help you repair or replace your home damaged by the disaster. The money can also help with pre-existing damage to parts of your home where the disaster caused further damage.
• Rental Assistance: Money you can use to rent housing if you are displaced from your home because of the disaster.
• Personal Property: Money to help you repair or replace appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer damaged by the disaster. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, additional computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment.
• Child Care: Money to help you pay for increased or child care expenses caused by the disaster.
• Transportation: Money to help you repair or replace a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don’t have another vehicle you can use.
• Moving and Storage Expenses: Money to help you move and store personal property from your home to prevent additional damage.

Have this information ready when you apply with FEMA
Only one registration per household is needed. When you apply, have the following information available:
• Address with ZIP code
• Condition of your damaged home
• Basic list of your property damage, losses and needs
• Insurance policy information, including the policy number
• Social Security number of one member of the household
• Phone number where you can be contacted
• An email address or physical address where you can get mail
• Bank account information for direct deposit of funds

FEMA home inspections continue in Iowa counties
FEMA housing inspectors are working in designated counties inspecting damage reported by people who have applied with FEMA for disaster assistance. Inspectors will call or text first to make an appointment. They will display official photo ID. If it is not visible, it is OK to ask to see it. This helps prevent fraud.
Applicants without insurance may be contacted first. Insured applicants may be contacted for an inspection after they send FEMA a copy of the declarations page from their insurance policy or settlement information.

Spanish Version:

Cómo solicitar asistencia de FEMA
• Visite Disasterassistance.gov/es
• Llame directamente a FEMA al 800-621-FEMA (3362)
• Descargue y utilice la aplicación de FEMA
• Los sobrevivientes pueden visitar cualquier Centro de Recuperación por Desastre para solicitar asistencia o recibir ayuda con el proceso de solicitud.
FEMA trabaja con cada familia, caso por caso. Los Equipos de Asistencia a Sobrevivientes del Desastre de FEMA están ayudando a las personas en refugios y vecindarios afectados con el proceso de solicitud de FEMA y respondiendo preguntas sobre los recursos disponibles, en colaboración con el manejo de emergencias del condado y del estado.
Todas las personas que utilicen un servicio de retransmisión, como un servicio de retransmisión de video (VRS, por sus siglas en inglés), teléfono con subtítulos u otro servicio, deben proporcionarle a FEMA el número de dicho servicio. Para ver un video accesible con tres formas de solicitar asistencia de FEMA, visite: https://youtu.be/Uhu-jpdLY1E?si=BBBeHD_WEBoryHHc .

Clases de Asistencia individual de FEMA
El dinero proporcionado por FEMA no tiene que ser devuelto e incluye:
• Necesidades Graves: Dinero para artículos que salvan vidas y sean de subsistencia, incluso agua, alimentos, artículos de primeros auxilios, recetas, fórmula infantil, suministros para amamantar, pañales, suministros médicos consumibles, equipo médico duradero, elementos de higiene personal y combustible para el transporte.

• Asistencia para personas desplazadas: Dinero que puede utilizar para alojarse en un hotel o motel, permanecer con familiares y amigos o para cualquier otra alternativa de vivienda disponible si no puede regresar a su vivienda luego de un desastre.
• Remplazo o reparaciones a la vivienda: Dinero para ayudarle a reparar o remplazar su vivienda dañada por el desastre. El dinero también puede ayudar con daños establecidos antes del desastre en partes de su vivienda donde el desastre provocó más daños.
• Asistencia de Alquiler: Dinero que puede utilizar para alquilar una vivienda si se ve desplazado de su hogar debido al desastre.
• Propiedad personal: Dinero para ayudarle a reparar o remplazar electrodomésticos, muebles de habitaciones y un ordenador personal o familiar dañado por el desastre. Esto también puede incluir dinero para libros, uniformes, herramientas, ordenadores adicionales y otros artículos necesarios para la escuela o el trabajo, incluso el trabajo independiente.
• Cuido de niños: Dinero para ayudarle a pagar por el incremento en o los gastos por el cuidado de niños provocados por el desastre.
• Transporte: Dinero para ayudarle a reparar o remplazar un vehículo dañado por el desastre cuando usted no tiene otro vehículo que pueda utilizar.
• Gastos de mudanza y almacenamiento: Dinero para ayudarle a trasladar y almacenar propiedad personal de su vivienda para evitar daños adicionales.

Tenga lista esta información al solicitar asistencia de FEMA
Sólo se necesita una solicitud por familia. Cuando solicite, tenga disponible la siguiente información:
• Dirección con código postal
• Condición de su vivienda dañada
• Un listado básico de los daños a su propiedad, pérdidas y necesidades
• Información sobre su póliza de seguro, incluido el número de la póliza
• Número de Seguro Social de un miembro de la familia
• Un número de teléfono donde pueda ser contactado
• Una dirección de correo electrónico o dirección postal donde pueda recibir correo
• Información de cuenta bancaria para el depósito directo de fondos

Inspecciones de FEMA de viviendas en Iowa
El personal de inspecciones a viviendas de FEMA trabaja en los condados designados, inspeccionando los daños reportados por las personas que han solicitado asistencia por desastre de FEMA. El personal de inspecciones primero llamará o enviará un mensaje de texto para programar una cita. Su credencial oficial con fotografía estará visible. Si no es visible, está PERMITIDO solicitar verla. Esto ayuda a evitar el fraude.
Primero se contactará a los solicitantes sin cobertura del seguro. Los solicitantes con cobertura seguro pueden ser contactados para una inspección luego de que envíen a FEMA una copia de la página de declaraciones de su póliza de seguro o información de pago

Please read the attached link.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/3a4bdd3

Here is another great source of information….

https://www.iowa.gov/media/187/download?inline=

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR     
Governor Kim Reynolds ★ Lt. Governor Adam Gregg     

    
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 24, 2024    
CONTACT: Kollin Crompton, (515) 745-2840,  Kollin.Crompton@Governor.Iowa.gov    
     

Governor Reynolds announces approval of Presidential Major Disaster Declaration 

  
DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today that President Biden has approved Iowa’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornados that occurred beginning on June 16, 2024 and continuing. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now authorized to provide assistance to Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The Governor will continue to request additional counties as more information is collected.

Residents in these counties can now apply for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services. 

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. Other options include registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or downloading the FEMA app.   

Homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, may be able to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. In addition, small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and private, nonprofit organizations impacted by the severe weather may be eligible to apply for working capital loans.  

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.  

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program is no longer available in counties where the FEMA Individual Assistance Program has been made available and residents should apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program.

In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program has been activated for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. The Public Assistance Program provides funding for emergency work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures. 

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6/24/2024 Information, Resources for Flood Recovery Available from ISU Extension and Outreach

Floods are a common and costly natural disaster. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides access to information and educational resources to help Iowans recover from the current floods affecting northwest Iowa, as well as prepare for potential flooding elsewhere in the state.