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KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Washington, D-C) – President Joe Biden, Friday, approved Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request for a major disaster declaration for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that struck the counties of Adair, Montgomery, Polk and Story May 21.
FEMA funding is now available to homeowners and renters there.
A declaration was announced earlier this month for homeowners and renters in Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby and Union counties for severe storms and tornadoes April 26-27.
Key Messages
DRCs open to assist Iowans
Recovery specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration at the centers will provide information
on available services, explain assistance programs and help survivors complete or check the status of their
applications.
Disaster Recovery Center locations:
The centers are a one-stop shop where storm survivors can talk face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists to
learn more about state/federal resources and/or to check on the status of a FEMA registration. Iowans may also
visit DRCs in Nebraska at the Douglas or Washington county locations:
Douglas County DRC
Omaha Police Department Community Room C116
20924 Cumberland Dr
Elkhorn, NE 68022
Hours of operation:
8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Closed Monday for Memorial Day
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Tuesday
Washington County DRC
First Lutheran Church
2146 Wright St
Blair, NE 68008
Closed due to power outage Friday, May 24.
Residents can apply online, through the app or by phone
Here’s how to apply for FEMA assistance:
Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give
FEMA the number for that service. Click here for an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance.
Daily Fact Sheet – Iowa Tornadoes and Storms – DR-4779-IA
Learn more at FEMA.gov/disaster and Iowa Emergency Management
Have this information ready when you apply with FEMA
Only one registration per household is needed. When you apply, please have the following information available:
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (IA) Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee reports, that on May 9th (2024), the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness hosted a free Mental Wellness Panel at the Griswold Community Center. The event included a mental wellness resource fair and a panel presentation of experts from our community. The free meal for the panel event was sponsored generously by the Healthy Cass County Coalition with funding from the Healthiest State Initiative Grant and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
Resources and community groups that were present at the resource fair were NAMI, Senior Life Solutions, Catholic Charities, Veteran’s Support, Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, Cass County Public Health, Cass County ISU Extension, Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disabilities Services, and Thriving Families Alliance. This aspect of the event was a great way for community members to see how many mental wellness resources they have in their community.
McAfee says panelists for the event included Erika Kirchhoff from Thriving Families Alliance who spoke on resilience. She gave tips and tools on how to become mentally resilient through life’s challenges. Mary-Beth Roskens from Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disabilities Services explained how therapy sessions work and how to find therapy services. Debrenee Grajeda a mental health therapist from Catholic Charities gave different tools to take care of your mental health daily. Melanie Fell and Carolyn Bruck explained how the Atlantic School District provided therapy services in the schools without students missing a lot of class time.
At the end of the panel presentation, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions. The panelists were able to share their expertise on dealing with mental health at the workplace, how to respond when a youth is struggling with their mental health, and how to get students involved in the therapy program at the Atlantic School District. 
Grace McAfee says “This was a great event for all members of the community to gain tools to improve their mental health and to see the resources available in Cass County. The Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness is grateful to all those who helped make this event a success. We look forward to bringing more events like this to Cass County to help reduce the stigma of Mental Health”
The Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness is a part of the Healthy Cass County Coalition. You are invited to connect with either group by contacting Grace McAfee, Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator, at 712-250-8170 or mcage@casshealth.org. You can also follow the coalition on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/ for local wellness events and tips during Mental Health Awareness Month and all year round!
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Children’s Theatre Group, Friday, said they are happy to announce they are partnering with Footliters Traveling Playhouse and the Young Footliters Youth Theatre from Coralville, Iowa to bring a week-long theater experience to kids in Atlantic this June. This year’s production will be “The Call of the Matterhorn.” This production is a musical adventure filled with magic, mystery, and true tests of character set in the Swiss Alps. The Call of the Matterhorn is a brand new production with a script by Katie Colletta and original music by Jason Sifford.
Designed for students at all levels of theatre experience, campers will audition, rehearse, and perform a musical alongside three professional teaching artists…in one week! The traveling group also brings the set, costumes, and props. Chris Bennett, President of the Atlantic Children’s Theatre Group, says “Thanks to the generosity and support of The Atlantic Rotary Club, The Atlantic Community School Foundation, and numerous individuals in the community, we’re able to cover the $4,500 worth of expenses and offer this opportunity for free.”
Held June 24-28 at Atlantic High School, students will begin rehearsals on Monday, practice throughout the week, and put on a public performance of the hour-long show on Friday, June 28th at 7 pm. Children who have completed first grade through 8th grade are invited to participate. No experience is needed. Space is limited; registration will be limited to 60 children due to the script and costume availability. 
Footliters Traveling Playhouse is committed to “engaging and empowering students through an immersive, inclusive theatre experience.” They say “We put our students first and collaborate with parents and communities to make our theatre a safe and exciting space for all.”
To register, or if you have questions, visit the Atlantic Children’s Theater Group Facebook page.
(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on separate charges Friday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to the Red Oak Police Dept., 32-year-old Caleb Allen Arnold, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 5:30-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street. Arnold was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault-Bodily Injury/1st Offense, and False Imprisonment. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond, pending a court appearance.
And, at around 1-p.m., Friday, Red Oak Police arrested 37-year-old Sara Sue Batten, of Red Oak, in the 1500 block of N. 8th Street, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Batten was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.
GREENFIELD, Iowa — Since Tuesday’s tornado, both Greenfield United Methodist Church and St. John’s Catholic Church have been spots where physical donations have been dropped off or sent. While they’re grateful for physical donations, they say they don’t need them at the moment because they’re full. Instead, they and other community leaders are calling for monetary donations. Organizers at the churches say the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation will accept monetary donations for its Greenfield Tornado Relief Fund, which can be found here.
The Greater Greenfield Community Foundation is a nonprofit that’s been around for more than 40 years. Jennifer Garside, one of the board members, says the foundation normally does projects like building the fitness center so they’re used to handling large sums of money. Garside told KCCI that “In about a less than 24-hour period, we had over 900 emails to our foundation. Emails of people wanting to make donations.”
She said the funds will be used to help people and the community. Foundation members are this next week to form a plan to help people. Multiple rooms within Greenfield United Methodist Church are filled with donations, organized and ready for people to come pick up what they need.
On Friday, the church received the last physical donations they need: car seats and pack-and-plays for infants and toddlers from UnityPoint’s Blank Children’s Hospital. The team came out in several vehicles, delivering car seats and pack-and-plays that were new and still inside their packaging.
(Guernsey, Iowa) – The start of the Memorial Day weekend began with a fatal UTV accident Friday evening, in central Iowa’s Poweshiek County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2016 Polaris Ranger Crew operated by an 11-year-old, was traveling southeast on 230th Street onto 450th Avenue, southeast of Guernsey, when the vehicle went out of control as it was negotiating the curve.
The UTV rolled onto the driver’s side into the north ditch. The operator was injured and flown by helicopter to the University of Iowa. A 13-year-old passenger in the vehicle died. No names were released. The accident, which occurred at around 5:20-p.m. Friday, remains under investigation.
The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office.
*Note, this is from the parent storm of the Greenfield tornado, as the storm cycled in northeast Adair County.
3) Martensdale Tornado – EF-0 – northwest Warren County
As post-event analysis continues, results above remain preliminary and are subject to change and refinement.(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, today (Friday), issued a statement on behalf of the Ida County Sheriff’s Office, with regard to an incident that occurred this (Friday) morning in the northwest Iowa county. Authorities report that at 11:14-a.m.., the Ida County Communications Center received a 911 call of a shots fired incident in the 300 block of 5th Street in Battle Creek, Iowa.
The Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and discovered 53-year-old Kevin Lee Blume, of Battle Creek, Iowa, suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was flown to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
At this time, the investigation is ongoing and there is no danger to the public.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; the Iowa State Patrol; the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; the Monona County Sheriff’s Office; the Battle Creek Ambulance; Ida Grove ambulance and Ida County EMS.
(Menlo, Iowa) – In honor of Memorial Day, Greenfield native Ray “Bubba” Sorensen repaints this 12-foot tall, approximately 60–90-ton boulder to pay tribute to our military men and women. With the town of Greenfield reeling from the Tornado devastation, Sorensen who serves as a State Representative has been on the ground helping to facilitate donations and clean-up efforts during the day and trying to find time to work on the Freedom Rock® in the evenings and nights.
Sorensen started painting the original Freedom Rock® the second week of May and plans to be finished by Memorial Day 2024, but again he may miss his mark due to the tornado. His stories on this year’s version include:
“For the 26th version of the original Freedom Rock®, the “front” road facing side of the rock was envisioned to be a broad Thank you to all our Veteran, especially those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice, with a Revolutionary War soldier and current service member and a perched eagle with a ribbon in its mouth that reads “When you go home tell them of us & say for your tomorrow we gave our today.” 
It also has a mourning widow standing amongst poppies. On the south side of the rock, PTSD piece, that shows a Veteran sitting in a cemetery, staring at the grave of his brother-in-arms, remembering the chaos of battle with a quote that reads “No bullet, no shell, no demon in hell, shall break the bond called Brother.” On the east side of the rock, an illustration of Lafayette G Pool who was a WWII Veteran nicknamed “War Daddy”. He was a tank-crew and tank-platoon commander in World War II and is widely recognized as the US tank ace of aces.
On the northeast side with the Huey that contains the cremains of over 150 Vietnam Veterans, is Paris D. Davis is a retired United States Army officer who received the Medal of Honor on 3 March 2023 for his actions on 18 June 1965 during the Vietnam War. He was twice previously nominated for the Medal of Honor, but both times the paperwork relating to his nomination disappeared. Davis, then a captain with the 5th Special Forces Group, was instead awarded the Silver Star. He subsequently commanded the 10th Special Forces Group.
On top of the North facing side is my version of the POW/MIA flag, featuring a prisoner gripping the barbed wire while being grabbed by a prison guard. Finally, the “Lion of Fallujah”, Douglas A. Zembiec, referred to as the “Unapologetic Warrior”, was an officer in the Marine Corps and member of the CIA who was killed in action while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is best known for his actions during Operation Vigilant Resolve.
Sorensen is not commissioned for his work on the original Freedom Rock® in Menlo, Iowa but works as an independent mural artist having completed the Iowa Freedom Rock® Tour last September. Sorensen is working on the 50 State Freedom Rock Tour. “I always say I have three goals with ‘The Freedom Rock® Tour’ and that is to honor America’s Veterans, promote tourism and provide for my family.”
Sorensen’s oldest two children, Indie and Michael, enjoy helping him in the early stages of many Freedom Rocks® including the original, filling in sketched areas at his discretion, and his littlest, Libby, has even scribbled a bit of paint on as well.
For a list of the Tour and other info, please visit www.thefreedomrock.com. Sorensen plans to be at The Freedom Rock® over Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day to meet with visitors. Calendars as well as other merchandise are also available to help offset costs for the original Freedom Rock® project. The Freedom Rock® exit from Interstate 80 onto
Highway 25 is open to the Freedom Rock®, but is closed to the entrance into Greenfield that has been devastated by a tornado.
COUNCIL BLUFFS – As yet another storm system has caused damage to both public and private property, Pottawattamie County Emergency Management officials continue to request damage reports and pictures from the public. Director of Emergency Management Doug Reed, says “We’re now included in three active State Proclamations of Disaster Emergency, it’s almost unprecedented.
“Covering a county of over 93,000 square miles can be challenging for our staff of three, so reports from the public are crucial in expediting the process to help identify needs and apply for assistance programs that can help our jurisdictions, residents, and businesses,” Reed said.
Reporting Damages. Damages for the most recent storms occurring in the county are being requested from those impacted. Any renters, homeowners, or businesses that have not yet reported their damages for the May 6 or May 20 through May 24 storms should do so on the emergency management website. Please indicate the exact date damages occurred and provide photos if possible.
Current Declaration Status:
• Severe Storms and Tornadoes (April 26) – Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for FEMA Individual Assistance and Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance. FEMA Public Assistance program is being requested.
• Severe Storms and Tornadoes (May 6) – Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for state assistance to local governments, Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, and Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program – please report damages here.
• Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Derecho (May 20 through May 24) – Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for state assistance to local governments, Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, and Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program. An expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for FEMA Individual and Public Assistance is being requested – please report damage here.
Assistance for Farmers: USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has approved the Governor’s request for the activation of USDA disaster assistance in the state and Pottawattamie County. The Governor’s press release on the announcement can be found here. A USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet can be viewed at this link. Impacted farmers in Pottawattamie County should report their damage and inquire on available assistance programs through their FSA Service Center in Oakland or Council Bluffs.
Access to Assistance Information and Ways to Help:
Information and links to available assistance programs and ways you can contribute to disaster relief can be
found at the emergency management agency website and the Share Iowa website. Both websites are updated
as information is received from partners and service providers.
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