Recovery dollars continue to flow in storm-stricken Iowa

(The Center Square) - The weather may be mostly sunny for the opening weekend of the Iowa State Fair, but the state experienced a spate of storms over the past few months, resulting in an influx of federal dollars.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved $61 million for two programs to help storm victims. Fifty-six million dollars is to help residents with home repairs, temporary residences and other uninsured needs, according to the agency.

Iowa residents with flood insurance collectively collected more than $5 million, FEMA said.

The agency approved applications for more than 5,000 households. The counties approved for assistance are Adair, Adams, Buena Vista, Cedar, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Humboldt, Jasper, Lyon, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Union and Woodbury, according to FEMA.

The Iowa Department of Education is using $300,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to assist students who may have lost their homes because of the storms. The Nodaway Valley Community School District, the River Valley Community School District, the Rock Valley Community School District, the Spencer Community School District and the Tri-Center Community School District are eligible for the funds, according to a DOE news release.

Each district can receive up to $80,000 for items that include short-term emergency housing, school supplies, groceries and transportation assistance, the news release said.

“With the new school year quickly approaching, the Department will continue to support local education leaders in disaster-impacted communities as they reinforce student success and safely welcome students, families, and teachers back to school this fall, said DOE Director McKenzie Snow.

The state was granted four presidential disaster declarations since May, according to the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management . The first was the result of flooding that occurred from April 24 to May 23. Nineteen tornadoes swept through the area on April 26.

Strong thunderstorms led to significant damage on May 21. The hardest hit area was Greenfield, according to the department.

Another strong round of storms moved through the state on June 16 and included tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds and flooding.