The office of Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and other state and federal agencies, are working closely with local emergency management agencies to assist communities in preparing for and responding to flooding. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Johnston has been activated to enable agencies to coordinate response activities. A Joint Information Center has been established at the SEOC. Today (Saturday, Governor Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for 17 additional counties in response to the recent storms and flooding. Included in the declaration is Crawford, Monona and Sac Counties.

In addition, the Governor activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for Cedar, Chickasaw, Davis, Decatur and Monroe counties. The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov. Applications must be received within 45 days of the date of proclamation. State, local and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials will begin conducting joint damage assessments on Monday. The damage assessments are expected to take several days to complete. The results will be used to determine if the amount of damage warrants Governor Branstad asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the most recent flooding and severe storms.

Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a Walnut man this (Saturday) morning. 36-year old Erik A. Appley was taken into custody at around 10-a.m. on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. Appley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 cash bond.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Friday of 22-year old Cody Carlson of New Market. Carlson was stopped for a traffic violation and then arrested for driving under the influence and open container. His bond was set at $2,434.

Two Nebraska men were arrested Friday in connection with a fatal shooting incident that occurred early Wednesday morning on the Omaha side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian bridge over the Missouri River, which links Omaha and Council Bluffs. Authorities told the Omaha World-Herald that 23-year old Terrece R. Cox, of Omaha, was booked into the Douglas County, NE Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, three counts of using a weapon to commit a felony and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.

Omaha Police also arrested 27-year old Billy T. Kellogg, Omaha, on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony. 26-year old Shamari Richards, of Omaha, was killed during the shooting, which happened at around 1:15-a.m., Wednesday. Two other men, 29-year old Kevin Jenkins, and 19-year old Jeremy Fejeran, also were shot, but have since been released from a hospital.

A Mills County Sheriff’s Deputy suffered non-life threatening injuries during an accident early this (Saturday) morning. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 31-year old Deputy Joshua England, of Glenwood, was responding across Gaston Avenue at around 12:12-a.m. to assist Pottawattamie County authorities who were in an active pursuit. England was driving his patrol vehicle in an emergency status (lights and sirens), when a deer entered the roadway.

Unable to avoid a collision, England’s 2009 Ford Crown Victoria cruiser hit the animal, causing the Deputy to lose control. His car then ran off the road. England was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

On Friday, May 31st the Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 20-year old Samantha Eletta McCuen for possession of drug paraphernalia. McCuen was cited and released on citation.

Also on Friday, The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a single vehicle in a ditch at 210th Street and G Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene it was determined that 14-year old Siera Brooke Bissel-Abraham of Red Oak was operating a 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva owned by Malissa Ann Bissel of Red Oak. Bissel-Abraham was traveling eastbound on 210th Street when she attempted to turn north onto G Avenue, lost control of the vehicle and entered into the east ditch. The vehicle didn’t sustain any damage. Bissel-Abraham was cited for violation of an instruction permit and no insurance (accident related).