(Radio Iowa) – Flood warnings were issued in far northwest Iowa, Friday (June 21), as water levels continue to rise after eight inches of rain fell Thursday night. Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo is closely monitoring the Rock River that runs north of the town of four-thousand in Sioux County as more rain is expected. It reached record levels during devastating flooding ten years ago, and it could get there again.

The projections are pretty close to the 22-point-seven inches for the crest in 2014. During the past several years, Rock Valley built berms to protect property and people. Sandbagging is underway not only in Rock Valley but other communities in nearby Lyon and Plymouth counties.

Van Otterloo says evacuations could be ordered.

Rock Valley will decide sometime this afternoon if it will evacuate the northern part of the city.  Other nearby communities also fearful of flooding include Sioux Rapids, Hawarden, and Akron. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says a woman who tried to drive through a flooded roadway in rural Spencer went into a waterfilled ditch and had to be rescued by two people entered the water, broke the rear window and removed the woman. Within minutes after the rescue, the vehicle was fully under water.

(article by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio via Radio Iowa)

(Radio Iowa) – At least four Iowa mayors are attending the U-S Conference of Mayors, underway in Kansas City through Sunday. The non-partisan gathering of 200-plus mayors is open to those from communities with populations of 30-thousand or more. Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart says homelessness is one challenging issue many of the elected leaders from across the country are facing. Mayor Hart says he launched a homelessness task force earlier this month.

Gun violence is another key topic, though Hart says Waterloo’s numbers in that category are trending downward, which he credits to efforts like gun buy-back programs. Many communities are also struggling with mental health, Hart says, and how to expand services.

The mayors are working to compile a list of priorities for the next administration prior to the November presidential elections. Even with so many elected leaders at the conference, he says there’s no political grandstanding. Hart notes, there’s no such thing as a Republican pothole or a Democratic pothole.

Other Iowa mayors at the 92nd annual conference include Danny Laudick of Cedar Falls, Connie Boesen of Des Moines and Brad Cavanagh of Dubuque.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Association of Realtors says home inventory saw a boost in both new listings and overall available homes in Iowa for May. Statewide housing analyst Les Sulgrove says there’s a couple of factors involved.

There were some 71-hundred homes on the market in May, an increase of 36 percent from last year, and a nine-point-four percent increase from May 2023.

The number of homes sold in May was up almost four percent from last May and up 20 percent from April.

He says interest in rural areas close to metros have gained more attention in recent years.

Sulgrove says April through July is the busiest period as people look to move after school is out, and that trend has held this year.

Sulgrove says things appear to be shifting right now.

The days on the market increased four-point-nine percent to 43 days in May compared to the 41 days of one year ago. The median sales price is up from 238-thousand dollars this year compared to 225-thousand dollars last year at this time.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Following the severe storms that hit Iowa on April 26-27 and May 20-21, two Presidential Disaster Declarations were issued for the state of Iowa. Qualifying individuals may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).

These declarations allow the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer D-SNAP for Iowans in specific ZIP codes impacted by the tornadoes and storms that moved through Iowa on April 26-27 and May 20-21.

April 26 storms

Persons who lived in the following ZIP codes on April 26-27, had a storm-related loss, and qualify based on income and resources between April 26 and May 25 may be eligible to receive D-SNAP benefits: 50213, 50327, 50801, 50863, 50854, 51503, 51526, 51527, 51537, 51542, 51548, 51553, 51557, 51561, 51564, 51570, 51578.

SNAP recipients who received April 2024 SNAP benefits and were affected by the April 26-27 storms in the ZIP codes listed above can apply for D-SNAP benefits by completing SNAP Recipient Request for Disaster SNAP which is available by calling 515-420-6048 between June 25 – June 29 at the times listed below.

May 20-21 storms

Persons who lived in the following ZIP codes on May 20-21, had a storm-related loss, and qualify based on income and resources between May 20 and June 18 may be eligible to receive D-SNAP benefits: 50007, 50046, 50201, 50849, 50864

SNAP recipients who received SNAP benefits in May 2024 and were affected by the May 20-21 storms in the ZIP codes listed above can apply for D-SNAP benefits by completing SNAP Recipient Request for Disaster SNAP available by calling 515-420-6048 between June 25 – June 29 at the times listed below.

Those who are eligible to receive D-SNAP benefits will receive food dollars on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that is equivalent to the maximum allotment of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for their household size. D-SNAP benefits can be used for food purchases at any SNAP-authorized retailer, including farmers markets and certain online retailers. For a complete list of authorized retailers, please see the USDA SNAP retailer locator fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator.

D-SNAP uses different qualifying rules than regular SNAP. Those who may not normally qualify for SNAP, based on income, may qualify for D-SNAP if they lived in one the ZIP codes listed above on April 26-27 or May 20-21, 2024, and suffered one or more of the following disaster-related expenses:

• Loss of or no access to income due to the disaster, including reduced, terminated, or delayed receipt of income
• Home or self-employment business repairs, including supplies paid for out of pocket and not reimbursed during the 30-day period of time
• Temporary shelter expenses

Income limits

A household’s net income, for their household size, cannot be more than the amounts listed below for the following 30-day period of time:

April 26 – May 25 for the April 26-27 storms

May 20 – June 18 for the May 20-21 storms

Any disaster-related expenses paid out of pocket and not reimbursed during that 30-day period of time can be subtracted from the household’s net income to be eligible for D-SNAP benefits.

D-SNAP applicants will need to provide proof of their identity. They may need to provide proof of residence in the storm-affected area, income, and disaster-related expenses.

There are two ways to apply for D-SNAP if someone lived in one of the approved ZIP codes, by phone or in-person. The hours are the same for both.

• Tuesday, June 25 9am – 4:30pm
• Wednesday, June 26 9am – 4:30pm
• Thursday, June 27th 9am – 5:30pm
• Friday, June 28th 9am – 4:30pm
• Saturday, June 29th 8am to 11am

Applications and interviews can be completed over the phone by calling 515-420-6048.

Applications and interviews are completed in-person at the following locations. Please take proof of identity. You may need to provide proof of residence in the storm-affected area, income, and disaster-related expenses.

417 E. Kanesville Blvd, Council Bluffs, IA

• 51503, 51526, 51527, 51537, 51542, 51548, 51553, 51557, 51561, 51564, 51570, 51578 (April 26-27 storms)
• 50864 (May 20-21 storms)

201 N. Elm St, Creston, IA

• 50213, 50801, 50854, 50863 (April 26-27 storms)
• 50849 (May 20-21 storms)

2309 Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA

• 50327 (April 26-27 storms)
• 50007, 50046, 50201 (May 20-21 storms)

For more information visit: hhs.iowa.gov/dsnap.

Des Moines – The Iowa Insurance Division has issued four cease and desist orders against contractors (Recon Roofing & Construction, Exterior + Home and Remodeling, American Dream Home Improvement, and Darren Reeves Roofing (of Anita) who have acted as unlicensed public adjusters by soliciting business and offering services that require a public adjuster license.

Deputy Commissioner Jared Kirby says “Dealing with damage from a storm is stressful for those impacted. Those unlicensed storm-chasers may attempt to create expectations on settlement values or scope of repairs that do not align with the language of the insurance policy which can cause delays to claim resolution and added expense to consumers.”

It’s important for Iowans to make certain that any service provider working on storm restoration is a reputable company and provides the consumer with proof of insurance, proof of contractor registration and references to allow the consumer to make an informed decision regarding who will be chosen to perform the repairs.

“Iowans should expect contractors to provide to the insured, directly, a written estimate of damages that the insured property owner can then submit to their insurance agent or insurance company,” Kirby added. “Maintaining communication with your insurance company is key.”

A contractor, or other service provider, not licensed as a public adjuster is prohibited by law from advertising, or otherwise offering, to negotiate with the insurance company, filing a claim on your behalf or effecting the settlement of a claim.

A public adjuster is any person who, for compensation, acts on behalf of an insured, during the investigation, negotiation, or settlement of a first-party claim for loss or damage to real or personal property of the insured. Iowa law requires public adjusters to be licensed.

Many times, contractors solicit business, especially after major storms, by offering services that fall under the definition of public adjusting. If an insured property owner has become involved with a contractor who has made these types of promises or commitments, the Iowa Insurance Division encourages the public to report it by emailing storm-chaser-scams@iid.iowa.gov.

Iowans that have had damage should be in regular communication with their insurance agent or insurance company until the claim is completed. The Iowa Insurance Division is here to help Iowans who have questions or concerns regarding how their insurance agent or insurance company is responding to their claim. Iowans can file a complaint for free with the Iowa Insurance Division.

Below are a few fundamentals Iowans should expect from their insurance agent or insurance company during the insurance claim process:

• Timely and responsive communications in the handling of their claim. Insurance company representatives are expected to manage the claim process in a diligent manner.
• An understandable explanation of the claim process. If you do not understand something that the insurance agent or insurance company has said or is doing in the claim process, remain persistent in gaining the level of understanding you are comfortable with.
• Clear explanations from the insurance company about what is expected of the policyholder. Questions can arise in the early stages of the aftermath about mitigation of damages. This includes what an insured can and should do to protect their property from future damage.  For example, the removal of items or demolition of property prior to a claim representative inspection, the installation of tarps or other materials necessary to protect the structure and its belongings.
• The timeline in which the insured must make repairs to their property is stipulated in the insurance policy.  If the insured has any questions regarding the timeline for repairs they should first contact their agent and insurance company, if questions persist please file a complaint the Iowa Insurance Division.
• An insurance company is required to perform a thorough investigation of the insurance claim in order to determine an accurate preliminary estimate of the cost to repair or replace damaged property. This investigation, depending on the complexity of the claim, can be lengthy. On occasion, disagreements can arise between the insured and the insurance company as to the value and the scope of damage. The insured may present written estimates for repair services justifying their own damage assessment. The insured may negotiate the settlement of their own claim with the insurance company. Ongoing claim management and reasonably prompt communications by the insurance company or insurance agent to the insured is expected.

If an Iowan feels the expectations above have not been met or have other concerns about the claim handling by their insurance agent or insurer, the Iowa Insurance Division is available to assist Iowans. Iowans can file a complaint with the Iowa Insurance Division which allows our office to ensure contractual obligations are met and done so in accordance with insurance laws and regulations. This is a service provided at no cost to those who choose to file a complaint.

(Sac City, Iowa) – The Sac County Attorney’s Office, Friday (today) released a statement concerning the disappearance and death last November, of Wall Lake truck driver David Schultz. The statement is shown below:

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is calling on the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to immediately resign. The agency protects depositors from losses if a bank or savings and loan fails. Ernst says an independent investigation released 43 days ago found the F-D-I-C’s chairman failed to protect employees from a toxic workplace.

In May, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee called on Gruenberg to resign and Guenberg announced a few hours later that he would step down AFTER his successor is confirmed by the U-S Senate. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says Gruenberg has fostered a raunchy frat house atmosphere in the agency and he needs to go immediately.

President Biden has nominated a regulator on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to take Gruenberg’s place at the F-D-I-C. Ernst says she looks forward to reviewing Christy Goldsmith Romero’s credentials, but a significant amount of time will pass before the senate votes on the nomination.

Democrats say if Gruenberg resigns before he’s replaced, there would be two Republicans and two Democrats left on the F-D-I-C board and tie votes could delay some banking regulations from taking effect. The F-D-I-C was formed during the Great Depression to restore trust in the American banking system. Over 57-hundred people currently work in the agency.