DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says he’ll press President Barack Obama to issue a disaster declaration along the Missouri River during the president’s trip to eastern Iowa. The governor told reporters at his weekly news conference Monday that he’s scheduled to meet with the president during Obama’s trip to Bettendorf on Tuesday and will use the occasion to seek a federal disaster declaration. That would allow the federal government to pick up roughly 80 percent of the costs of damage to public facilities due to flooding.

The governor has already requested a federal disaster declaration. Branstad says he is hopeful that request will be granted in the next few days. With the president scheduled to be in Bettendorf, Branstad says it makes sense to use that occasion to reiterate his request.