Governor Branstad asks for federal disaster declaration for Winneshiek County

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has signed a letter to be delivered to President Obama requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 10 Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained in June from severe flooding.

This request for a Presidential Declaration includes Winneshiek County.  Winneshiek County was included after county officials met with FEMA and Iowa HSEMD representatives on July 9th in Decorah.

Governor Branstad's request does not mean an automatic Presidential Declaration from President Obama; the request goes through FEMA Region VII for further review and consideration.

Under normal circumstances it may be several weeks before notification of approval or denial is received.

The governor is making the request for federal Public Assistance Program funding for Allamakee, Benton, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Clayton, Delaware, Howard, Jones and Winneshiek counties.

A joint federal, state and local preliminary damage assessment of the 10 counties found severe weather caused an estimated $5.27 million worth of damage that could be eligible under the Public Assistance Program. Public Assistance funds may 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 the storms.