Officials in Iowa report the Farmer’s Electric Cooperative based in Greenfield, and serving parts of six southwest Iowa counties (Adair, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Madison and Union), has received funding for the retrofitting of 123.4-miles of overhead electrical lines. The project is valued at more than $3-million. 75-percent of the eligible costs is paid for by FEMA (The Federal Emergency Management Agency), 10-percent is paid by the State, and the remaining 15-percent is paid through the sub-applicant (local governments, communities, tribal governments and certain eligible non-profits).

The Hazard Mitigation Projects (HMP) are funded to reduce or prevent damage from future disasters. Federal funding is made available after each Presidential Disaster Declaration, through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Managements serves as the coordination point between the entities applying for assistance and FEMA. IHSEM staff are involved from the beginning to end, from guiding applicants through the application process to completing the final paperwork.