DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds has requested an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms and widespread flooding that occurred on May 21, 2024.

The letter requests activation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans for the following four (4) counties: Adair, Polk, Story, and Montgomery. In addition, the letter requests the activation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program for Adair County. Additional counties may be added once the request is approved.

Funding under the FEMA Individual Assistance Program provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses access to programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program provides homeowners, renters, businesses, and most nonprofit organizations in the affected counties whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, the ability to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA.

The FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides funds that can be used to rebuild damaged infrastructure that may include roads, bridges, culverts and other public facilities, or to cover costs of emergency work during, and debris removal after, severe weather.

In addition, the governor requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.

The letter can be read in its entirety here.

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic have announced Registered Nurse Michele Williams, is the newest recipient of the Cass Health Spirit of Volunteerism Award. Williams began working at Cass Health in July 1997, and many patients know her for her work in obstetrics and the emergency department.

Williams was nominated specifically for her volunteer work for the Massena ambulance. Her nominator wrote: “Michele Williams volunteers for her hometown emergency ambulance services in Massena and even though she is a registered nurse, she is also a registered advanced emergency medical technician. She has been doing this for about 7 years. She took over managing the ambulance, making sure the ambulance service adheres to regulations for the emergency services which includes having the medications they need when responding to emergencies and complying with those rules. EMS volunteers have to be ready to go at any time and are often called on at nights, weekends, during family get-togethers, and holidays. We don’t appreciate them enough and only think about them if and when we need them. I feel privileged to know that if I need to call 911 for help, that Michele may be in that ambulance that comes to help me or my family.”

Photos courtesy CCHS

With her own family in attendance, Williams was surprised at work with this award. “My husband kept a huge secret! I was very surprised when I won this award! I was also honored. It is nice to be recognized. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes things that people don’t see, and it makes me feel good to know that it matters,” said Williams.

Williams commented that she does it because she likes to help people. “I know the people in Massena and Cumberland and want to make sure if they are sick or hurt someone will be there to help them,” she said. As part of the Spirit of Volunteerism Award, the winner receives a $250 check to donate to the non-profit organization of their choosing. “I chose the Cass County Fair because there are a lot of young people in the surrounding communities that participate. I know things are getting expensive and we need to help keep our fair free so everyone can come out and enjoy it,” Williams said.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Officials with the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency said late Wednesday night, that access to Greenfield continues to be limited, to permit access for equipment operators and contractors to conduct cleanup efforts using heavy equipment. Only volunteers connected to residents within the City of Greenfield or authorized contractors will be permitted entry. All other individuals will be refused access to ensure safety and efficient recovery operations.

Volunteers should enter Greenfield from the north on Highway 25 at 9:00am or after. Volunteers will be directed to parking and buses will be utilized to take volunteers to appropriate worksites.

Contractors requiring authorization should enter from the east on Highway 92. Contractors with existing authorization should enter from the north on Highway 25.

Officials say “This process is being utilized to minimize traffic congestion in impacted areas and facilitate safe operating conditions for volunteers in the area. Please avoid parking vehicles and trailers in the immediate disaster area. Where possible, please minimize the number of vehicles brought into the city.”

(Radio Iowa) A celebration of the Duke will be held in southwest Iowa’s Madison County this weekend. The John Wayne Birthplace and Museum in Winterset will honor what would have been the actor’s 117th birthday with a two-day festival. Museum spokesman Brian Downes says they’re expecting fans from far and wide to make the pilgrimage. “These events began in 2007 with John Wayne’s 100th birthday, and the public demand was such as that except for two years off for the Coronavirus, we’ve been doing them ever since,” Downes says. “It’s a salute, it’s movies, it’s music, it’s food, celebrities and the whole town just rolls out the welcome for John Wayne’s world.” The events get underway in Winterset on Friday.

“We’re going to welcome folks at town with a book signing at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, and on hand will be author Scott Eyman who wrote extensively on John Wayne and John Ford, which is our theme,” Downes says. “After that, we move to the Iowa theater, recently restored, and we’re going to have a movie discussion and then we’re going to screen ‘The Searchers’ on the big screen, which is kind of a rare treat.”

Other events through the weekend include a fly-in of vintage aircraft at the Winterset airport, museum tours, cavalry reinactors, a 5-K walk-run, and a big-screen showing of “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.” Learn more at https://johnwaynebirthplace.museum/

(Radio Iowa) – A bill recently signed into law by the governor establishes state oversight of speed cameras that generate tickets for cities and counties. Department of Transportation director, Scott Marler says the law covers new requests for speed cameras and the ones that are already in place. “Of the approximately 25 communities that have installed these speed cameras the law requires that they submit some information to the D-O-T by July 1st,” he says. Marler says the D-O-T is required to have the reviews of the existing cameras done by October 1st.

“And the focus is on public safety of course and so the department will be reviewing against that criteria,” Marler says. The law also says fines from traffic camera tickets must be used on law enforcement expenses.

Marler made his comments during the recent state Transportation Commission meeting.

(Radio Iowa) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened temporary Disaster Recovery Centers in two western Iowa counties where residents are recovering from LAST months’s tornadoes. One site is at the Chamber of Commerce office in Harlan. The other is in the parking lot of Minden’s fire station. Storm victims in the eight counties declared presidential disaster areas may still call or go online to seek federal disaster assistance, but FEMA spokesman John Mills says this is for those who want an in-person option.

“A lot of people want to sit down with someone and talk and we’re working with each household on a case by case basis, that’s why we’ve opened these temporary recovery centers in Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties, to give people that option if they want to sit down with FEMA and talk about the variety of assistance that may be available for them.”

On May 14th, President Biden declared Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby and Union Counties major disaster areas. Residents in those counties with storm damage could qualify for federal grants to cover temporary housing costs and home repairs. Businesses impacted by the April 26th storms may be eligible for low interest loans from the Small Business Administration. Mills says you do not have to live in either Pottawattamie or Shelby County to visit with FEMA staff in Minden or Harlan.

“Everyone’s exact situation is unique — different family sizes, different levels of damage, different needs,” Mills says, “and that’s why we’re working with everyone one on one.” FEMA and Small Business Administration staff will be at the two western Iowa sites from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, although both may be closed on Memorial Day.

Governor Reynolds hopes to submit damage assessments to the White House yet today (Thursday) in order to get FEMA and S-B-A assistance for storm victims in some of the counties she declared STATE disaster areas on Tuesday night. Wills says FEMA staff have been helping with damage assessments in Greenfield and elsewhere.

“We’re in close communication with the state and ready to support requests we may get from the state for technical assistance and other needs as recovery continues in the hard hit areas,” Wills says. Governor Reynolds says surveyors are compiling damage reports from rural areas from this week’s storms, in hopes of qualifying for U-S-D-A assistance to farmers and livestock producers. Reynolds is seeking storm-related aid from the U-S-D-A for the April 26th tornadoes as well.

(Corning, Iowa) — Sheriff’s officials in Adams County, Wednesday afternoon, released the name of a woman who died, when her vehicle was blown-off Highway 148 near Joshua Tree Avenue, during Tuesday’s violent storms and tornadoes. Authorities say 46-year-old Monica Zamarron died at the scene. Her body was found after emergency crews responded to the scene at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Monica Zamarron was an employee of the Southwest Iowa Egg Co-Op.

Hers daughter set up a Go Fund Me to help with funeral costs. Click here to donate.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman said late Wednesday night, that initial damage assessments of private residential structures have been completed revealing a total of (28) residential structures impacted by yesterday’s tornadoes in Montgomery County, including (4) identified structures within the City of Red Oak.
• 3 – Destroyed
• 5 – Major Damage
• 11 – Minor Damage
• 9 – Affected Damage

Hamman says “While these numbers only capture residential structures, many private outbuildings, grain bins, vehicles, recreational trailers, and other property have also been significantly damaged and/or destroyed. An estimated dollar amount of private losses is not available currently.

“Damage assessment continues to both city owned and county owned property and equipment, however early estimates have already identified well over $2,000,000 in losses. Power outages are still impacting a large portion of Southwest Iowa REC customers. Information is being shared on their Facebook page as available. The Stanton Viking Center and Community Room is open for charging electronics, locker rooms and showers.

“Any residents with immediate unmet needs are encouraged to contact Montgomery County EMA at 712-623-3749 to help facilitate the appropriate service and supplies as needed. No immediate needs have been identified however we are working with the Southwest Iowa Community Foundation to set up a donation location for those wanting to help support those
impacted within Montgomery County, more information to be shared when available.

CURRENT ROAD CLOSURES:
• J Ave between 210th x 230th due to flash flooding and culvert damage.
• Hacklebarney Park – Closed until further notice.