Harkin was the chief sponsor of legislation that expanded FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program after the summer floods of 1993. The law increased the amount of money available to reduce the chance of damage from natural disasters. Belmond’s funds come from an allocation of dollars to Iowa based on the cost of repairing damage in the state from the 2008 Midwest floods.
“I am pleased that FEMA will cover part of the cost of reducing Belmond’s sewer disruptions,” said Harkin. “Without this assistance, Belmond ratepayers would have been forced to pay higher rates to cover these costs or the needed work would simply have not been done.”