Gov. Reynolds Issues Disaster Emergency Proclamation for five counties in response to impending flooding in Western Iowa

(Des Moines) Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, and Pottawattamie Counties in response to the impending flooding in Western Iowa.

The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of severe weather. It temporarily suspends provisions or provides for the following during the duration of the proclamation:

– The regulatory provisions of Iowa Admin. Code 11-53.11(3) prohibits pay to those State of Iowa employees for hours worked more than 40 hours per workweek while present in the State’s Emergency Operations Center or otherwise engaged in assigned disaster response missions or other activities temporarily suspended.

– The regulatory provisions of Iowa Code Chapter 8A, Iowa Code § 313.10, Iowa Admin. Code chapters 11-117, 11-118, which require the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies involved in the response to this disaster emergency to procure goods and services through a competitive selection process, are temporarily suspended.

– The regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 321.449 about hours of service for disaster repair crews and drivers delivering goods and services while responding to disaster sites during the duration of this disaster are also temporarily suspended, subject to conditions listed in Iowa Code § 321.449.

– Regulatory provisions of the Iowa Code that pertain to the procurement of goods and services, hours of service for disaster repair crews, and various requirements for the transportation of loads related to disaster repairs are temporarily suspended. Additionally, the proclamation allows vehicles transporting certain agricultural products to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation. This applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) that meet specific criteria related to weight limits and compliance with posted limits on roads and bridges.