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 $18,663,674 to Iowa through the Hazard Mitigation Grant program as the state continues to recover from 2008 flooding.
"Iowans have stood strong in the wake of the devastating floods and severe storms, but vital resources continue to be necessary as we strive to get Iowa back on its feet," Grassley said. "Buy-outs are a long and arduous process, especially following a disaster. It's good to see this money getting out the door."
FEMA obligates the funding for the projects below to the state of Iowa. It's the state's responsibility to use these funds to reimburse eligible sub-grantees after the review process and upon receipt of appropriate documentation. The eligible sub-grantees are shown below. The funding should cover 75 percent of the total project cost.
· Black Hawk County will receive $1,460,066 to reimburse funds used for the acquisition and demolition of 17 rural residential structures in Cedar Falls, Janesville, La Porte City and Waterloo.
· Cedar County will receive $1,869,513 to reimburse funds used for the acquisition and demolition of 23 residential structures and one commercial building damaged by flooding from the Cedar River.
· Mason City will receive $4,622,991 to reimburse funds used for the acquisition and demolition of 75 residential properties.
· Waterloo will receive $4,286,751 to reimburse funds used for the acquisition and demolition of 74 residential properties in the Sans Souci, Riverside and Sherwood Park neighborhoods damaged by flooding from the Cedar River.
· Waverly will receive $6,424,353 to reimburse funds used for the acquisition and demolition of 74 residential properties north of downtown, and in the northwest, southwest and southeast sections of the community.
According to FEMA, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funds to reduce the loss of life and property, lessen the impact to local communities due to natural disasters, and enable recovery after a disaster.