COUNCIL BLUFFS –The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency was notified that FEMA Acting Director Pete Gaynor approved the State of Iowa request to include PottawattamieCounty in the major disaster declaration for the State of Iowa, specifically the FEMA Individual Assistance Program. Local, state, and federal officials assessed damages throughout the county on April 2nd.

Based on the conducted assessments, FEMA has now included Pottawattamie County in the declaration for Individual Assistance. This means that residents are now eligible to apply for the federal Individual Assistance Program, which provides aid to eligible homeowners, renters, and businesses.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Director Doug Reed stated, “We will be working with partners from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA today to develop plans on setting up a Disaster Recovery Center in the county.” A Disaster Recovery Center is a location where residents can go to register for FEMA assistance and speak with FEMA personnel regarding their needs.

“We also hope to provide access to other sources of assistance and services for our residents who need recovery assistance at the DRC,” said Reed. Local officials will be providing further information to residents on where they can go to register for assistance and alternative means of registering with FEMA after plans are finalized over the next couple of days. Residents are urged to monitor media outlets and emergency management’s Facebook, Twitter, and website (www.pottcounty-ia.gov) for further information.