WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley said today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has awarded funds totaling $1,842,648.15 to Iowa through the Public Assistance Grant program as the state continues its recovery from severe flooding in 2008.
“Iowans have been working hard to recover from last year’s devastating floods. It’s good to see this funding come through to help Des Moines as they continue to make progress in their recovery,” Grassley said.
FEMA obligates the funding for the projects listed below to the state of Iowa. It’s the state’s responsibility to use these funds to reimburse eligible sub-grantees after a review process and upon receipt of appropriate documentation. The eligible sub-grantees are:
• Des Moines Water Works – Saylorville Plant Raw Water Well No. 1, $1,842,648.15 to reimburse for costs to repair the well caisson to pre-disaster condition and to armor and protect the sand and gravel beds surrounding the well caisson. This project also includes a hazard mitigation proposal that consists of placing rip rap and Geotextile fabrics as a bank protection method to prevent further erosion at the river bank.
The Public Assistance Grant program provides assistance to State, Tribal and local governments, and certain types of Private Nonprofit organizations so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President.
Thanks, in part, to the efforts of the Iowa congressional delegation, FEMA pays for 90 percent of the costs associated with the Public Assistance project shown above. The delegation sent several letters requesting the federal government take another look at the disaster level to ensure Iowa communities got the assistance they were entitled.