DES MOINES – Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today were joined at their weekly press conference by Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department (HSEMD) Director Mark Schouten to brief Iowans regarding the flooding situation occurring across the state.
In the past week, Gov. Branstad has issued disaster declarations for the following counties due to flooding and storm damage: Buena Vista, Cedar, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Franklin, Hancock, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Woodbury and Wright. Last week, Branstad and Schouten visited Lyon and Sioux counties to survey flood damage.
“Director Schouten and I had the opportunity to visit the communities of Rock Rapids and Rock Valley last week, and while the damage was significant, I was moved upon hearing of the outpouring of support the communities are receiving,” said Branstad. “By issuing proclamations of disaster for these counties, state resources are being made available to help in relief efforts, but citizens across Iowa should rest assured that the state stands ready to continue its aid and will work to assess eligibility for assistance from the federal government.”
Some of the resources that have been provided to date through Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management include:
· Buena Vista County
– 40 road barricades
· Cedar County
– Inmate assistance for debris removal
· Franklin County
– One 3-inch pump
– Eighty clean-up kits
· Hancock County
– Seventy-five clean-up kits
– Pumps for the City of Klemme
· Lyon County
– Pumps for the communities of Rock Rapids and George
– Established a shelter in Rock Rapids for displaced residents
– Traffic control support for Rock Rapids
· Plymouth County
– 20,000 sandbags
– Pump for the City of Akron
· Pocahontas County
– 10,000 sandbags to protect the power utility substation in Rolfe
· Sioux County
– 250,000 sandbags
– Five loads of sand from Iowa Department of Transportation to Rock Valley
– Urban Search and Rescue Team provided lights for use in sandbagging efforts and assisted in the evacuation of 16 people
– Six pumps for City of Rock Valley
– Established a shelter in Rock Valley for displaced residents
– 30 road barricades
– The Department of Inspections and Appeals provided evacuation assistance to the residents of Hope Haven in Rock Valley.
“Governor Branstad and I, in conjunction with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department and other relevant state agencies, will continue to ensure Iowans in flood-affected communities receive the assistance they need to respond to and recover from the flooding,” said Reynolds. “Flooding and flood recovery tend to last longer than other disaster situations, but Governor Branstad and I are committed to assisting Iowans in every way we can throughout the process.”
Heavy rains caused flooding in parts of northwest Iowa as a band of strong storms passed through the state beginning on Monday, June 16, 2014, and continued through the last week. The Governor’s Office and Iowa HSEMD re-launched Iowa Flood Central to provide Iowans and the press flood-related updates and resources.
“The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department, along with our partner agencies, will continue to assist and support the many communities impacted by this spring’s flooding and severe weather,” said department director Mark Schouten. “Right now, we are also working with local government officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess the extent of the damage and determine if it warrants a request for federal disaster aid.”
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