WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), along with Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), today called on President Joe Biden to approve Governor Kim Reynolds’ Major Disaster Declaration request for the severe winter storms that occurred in Iowa between January 8 and January 14. The storms produced heavy snow, blizzard conditions and life-threatening cold, necessitating a heightened emergency response to address significant damage to public infrastructure and private property.

“The Governor has determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and supplementary federal assistance is necessary,” the lawmakers wrote.

Governor Reynolds requested Hazard Mitigation statewide and activation of the Public Assistance Program for the following eighteen counties: Adair, Black Hawk, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Delaware, Dubuque, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Lucas, Montgomery, Polk, Scott, Story, Wapello and Washington.

Background:

The severe January weather events consisted of record snowfall, wind gusts of up to 50 mph and minus 40-degree wind chill in counties across Iowa. This caused multiple road closures, water main breaks, frozen building pipes and broken snow removal equipment. Over the course of the storms, local emergency response teams rescued over 1,200 Iowans from vehicles trapped in snow. Many essential services were severely delayed by the extreme weather.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.

February 13, 2024

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden

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 promptly grant the request made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for a major disaster declaration for the State of Iowa as a result of severe winter storms that produced heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and life-threatening cold from January 8 through January 14, 2024. A significant emergency response was needed as a result of these severe winter storms, which caused significant damage to public infrastructure and private property. 

Governor Reynolds has requested Hazard Mitigation statewide and activation of the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance was requested for the following eighteen counties: Adair, Black Hawk, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Delaware, Dubuque, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Lucas, Montgomery, Polk, Scott, Story, Wapello and Washington.

The Governor has determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and supplementary federal assistance is necessary.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this important request.

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