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 $5,292,260.87 to Iowa as the state 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 - $1,510,411.16 to help reimburse funds used for demolition of 70 properties and the disposal of demolition debris, which were damaged during the 2008 floods. This funding is provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance and will cover 90 percent of the project cost.
v Cedar Rapids - $1,278,444.01 to help reimburse funds used for the restoration of the Well Field Roads, including the removal of sediments, the hauling of excavated material, aggregating the surface course, scarification, shaping and compacting, which were damaged during the 2008 floods. This funding is provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance and will cover 90 percent of the project cost.
v Dubuque - $1,435,688 to help upgrade Dubuque’s sewer system by eliminating reoccurring flooding and sewer backups in 71 homes and the North Fork Catfish Creek. This funding is provided through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program which covers 75 percent of the project cost.
v Warren County Secondary Roads - $1,067,717.70 to help reimburse funds used for woody debris removal, demolition and removal of the remaining bridge components and replacement bridge costs at the Elkhorn Street Pedestrian Bridge, which was damaged during the 2008 floods. This funding is provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance and will cover 90 percent of the project cost.
Thanks, in part, to the efforts of the Iowa congressional delegation, FEMA pays for 90 percent of the costs associated with the Public Assistance projects shown above. 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.