WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley said today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has awarded three grants totaling $6,939,110.35 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 of Iowa’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 University of Iowa will receive $1,246,815 to help reimburse the University for two boiler systems temporarily leased while the Power Plant Boilers and auxiliary systems which heat the campus buildings, including the University of Iowa hospital, were damaged during the 2008 floods.
v Linn County will receive $4,218,642 to help pay for repair work yet to be completed at the Sheriff’s Department Building. The funds will also help reimburse Linn County for direct administrative labor costs incurred by paid consultants and for architectural and engineering services provided to assess damages after the 2008 floods.
v Iowa Judicial Branch will receive $1,473,653.35 to help reimburse the Iowa Judicial Branch for the evaluation, drying and cleaning of damaged court records and files that 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.