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 $3,804,334.88 to Iowa as it continues to recover from 2008 flooding.
“Iowans have been very resilient in the aftermath of the devastating floods and severe storms, but resources continue to be needed to help get Iowa back on its feet,” Grassley said. “These funds will help pay for some of the costs of repairs and expenses that were incurred during the flooding.”
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.
v Cedar Rapids Community School District - $2,295,641.43 to help reimburse funds used for selective demolition, repair, and restoration of Taylor Elementary School which was damaged during the 2008 floods.
v City of Cedar Rapids - $1,508,693.45 to help reimburse funds used for repair of the parkway and repair or replacement of damaged planters, decorative benches, decorative trash receptacles, guard rails and retaining walls which were damaged during the 2008 floods.
Thanks in part to the efforts of the Iowa congressional delegation, FEMA pays for 90 percent of the costs associated with these projects. The delegation sent several letters requesting the previous administration to take another look at the disaster level to ensure Iowa communities got the assistance they were entitled.