Council Bluffs, Iowa [KETV] — Pottawattamie County officials took new action Tuesday to help people affected by the deadly tornado outbreak. KETV reports the county board of supervisors put its emergency disaster proclamation into writing, authorizing the continued use of county resources to help disaster areas. It will be active for 30 days or until extended. Supervisor’s Board Chair Susan Miller said she’d made a verbal approval Friday but it needed to be formalized. Board members also voted to waive fees for building permits for tornado damage. Different agencies like Pottawattamie County Emergency Management also gave updates on clean up efforts.

Efforts have focused in Minden since the town received the majority of the damage. Emergency Management Director Doug Reed said “Just about the entire east side, east half of Minden is impacted with the significant majority of them completely destroyed.” He said they’ve made progress restoring power to some homes and are now working to restore gas where they can.

Volunteers also helped people clear their homes in Crescent, Tuesday, and supplies have been set up for those who need it at its fire station. Reed said they’re also working to set up multi-agency services for people impacted by the tornados and go to each town impacted.

Neola resident Joe Munch said the response has been great but he wants to see more collaboration to get the word about resources out for people impacted. He and other community members gathered supplies at the Neola Area Community Center. “Part of the disappointment, he said, “is the organizational effort of it, that we did have this resource available for folks and they didn’t know.”

He said piles of supplies are sitting in the gym waiting for people who need them. Susan Miller said county leaders are working to identify needs and provide resources. She said they’ll also work to get information about grants available for people affected.