(Radio Iowa) – State officials are applying for expanded federal food assistance for low income flood victims in northwest Iowa. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia says her agency is seeking what are called “Disaster SNAP benefits” for residents in the five counties that were declared federal disaster areas this week.

“That will allow Iowans to buy, purchase hot meals and ready to go meals in whatever location they’re in,” Garcia says. The federal benefits would not be restricted to Iowans who have already qualified for SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps.

“You have to have the presidential declaration first and then we, as the SNAP agency, apply,” Garcia says. “Individuals are qualified based on their household income, but you deduct the loss associated with the disaster.” Iowans who did not have flood insurance and lost their homes in the flooding, for example, would likely be eligible for disaster food assistance.

“SNAP typically only has a limited kind of allotment and you can’t buy prepared meals, so you can’t buy a rotisserie chicken or something that is prepared and is ready to go and consumed, but under Disaster SNAP you can,” Garcia says. “That’s really important for families that are hoteling or in a shelter or are otherwise dislocated from their typical arrangement.” If the U-S-D-A approves the State of Iowa’s application, Iowans who qualify for these “Disaster SNAP” benefits would get an Electronic Benefits Transfer card to buy food at authorized stores.

Flood victims are able to calculate home or business repairs, temporary shelter expenses and disaster-related medical expenses as well as loss of income to determine if they qualify for the benefits. Flood victims who are already receiving food stamps may qualify for an increase in benefits if the state’s Disaster SNAP application is approved for flood victims. The U-S-D-A has already approved Disaster SNAP for Iowans in Greenfield and other federally designated disaster areas hit by tornadoes in April and May.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has taken executive action to temporarily suspend some state regulations in the 27 counties where flooding has happened or is expected to happen in the next few days.

Under state law, Iowans who lose the the title for a vehicle have just five days to get an official copy to replace it. The governor’s proclamation temporarily suspends that deadline for flood victims. She’s also waiving the fees they’d face for getting a driver’s license, new license plates for a vehicle or copies of birth certificates to replace those lost in the flood. Reynolds is using her executive authority to temporarily suspend another law, so flooded out car and R-V dealerships can temporarily set up vehicle lots in a different city.

Governor Reynolds met with officials in Spencer on Tuesday. (Governor’s office photo)

The governor’s proclamation covers the following counties: Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Fremont, Harrison, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, Mills, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Pottawattamie, Sioux, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth and Wright.

You can find a copy of the proclamation here.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Harrison, Johnson, Mills and Pottawattamie Counties in response to severe storms and flash flooding that occurred on June 21 and continuing. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and Disaster Case Advocacy Program. 

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website https://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/assistance. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.   

The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case advocates work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, contact your local community action agency or visit iowacommunityaction.org.    

You can find a copy of the proclamation here.  

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Democrats’ nonpartisan “Green for Greenfield” fundraiser held on Sunday, June 23 raised more than $2,000 dollars for the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation to assist Greenfield tornado recovery.
The nonpartisan event was attended by 40 people–including Democrats, Republicans, and Independents–and featured personal stories and community updates from Susie and Willard Olesen, long-time Greenfield residents. Susie and Willard shared harrowing stories from the May 21 tornado, an EF5 that reached windspeeds of more than 300 miles per hour.

They also shared stories of hope, including a story about long-estranged friends setting aside political disputes to collaborate on recovery efforts. The couple gave updates on ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts, and expressed deep gratitude for all support, emphasizing that many people and businesses will continue to need support for months to come.

The event was held at the home of Dave and Barb Chase, and food was catered by The Flour Mill. Randy Burk provided music.

Susie and Willard Olesen

Donations to the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation can be made online at https://www.greenfieldiafoundation.org/ or by mailing checks to the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation, P.O. Box 13, Greenfield, Iowa, 50849.

For more information or to volunteer for upcoming events and activities with the Cass County Democrats, contact County Chair Denise O’Brien at 712-249-3197 or casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow the Cass County Democrats on Facebook
@CassCountyIADems

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (KCRG) — A North Liberty woman is facing charges after police found a body inside her car after a crash in Minnesota, KCRG reports. Margot Lewis, 32, is charged with interference with a dead body. Authorities said they found the body of 35-year-old Liara Tsai, of Minneapolis, inside Lewis’s car following a crash near Rochester, Minnesota on Saturday, June 22. Tsai had reportedly died before the crash happened.

No one has been charged in Tsai’s death yet. KTTC in Minnesota reports authorities are still trying to determine the connection between the victim and the suspect in this case. Tsai had blood coming from a neck wound and had been wrapped in a blanket.

KTTC reports Tsai loved music and had moved to Minneapolis from Iowa City at the beginning of the year because of its strong transgender community.