WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley said today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has awarded $5,860,416 in Community Disaster Loans to assist five Iowa communities as they continue to recover from 2008 flooding.
“Iowa was tested with devastating floods and severe storms. Iowans are extremely resilient, but will continue to need the resources that are available, including these loan funds to fully recover from the aftermath of these disasters,” Grassley said. “Secretary Napolitano’s visit to Iowa yesterday gave her a first hand look at the impact of these storms. I’m sure she is better prepared to react to Iowa’s needs in the future after seeing the devastation.”
FEMA may provide Community Disaster Loans to local governments, school boards, fire and police departments and district court offices not in excess of $5 million or 25 percent of the operating budget of the local government for the fiscal year in which the disaster occurred.
Grassley has worked to make sure federal dollars are available and flowing to Iowa’s hardest hit areas for housing, flood mitigation and business recovery. He also successfully pushed Congress to pass federal tax relief for Iowa, tailored to natural disaster recovery, as was done after Hurricane Katrina.
FEMA will distribute the funds as shown below.
v Cedar Rapids will receive $5 million
v New Hartford will receive $118,811
v Oakville will receive $51,588
v Palo will receive $304,722
v Parkersburg will receive $385,295