Biggest concern--will Northeast Iowa qualify for federal disaster area status?

Crews have been working at the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville

With the addition of Bremer and Chickasaw counties to the state disaster area designation, there are now seven Northeast Iowa counties considered part of the state's disaster area from last week's flooding.

Emergency government officials from the State of Iowa visited Winneshiek County on Monday in order to collect information about the total financial impact of the flooding.  The figures are important because whether Northeast Iowa receives federal disaster area status depends on whether local officials can show the flooding will cost at least $4.3 million to clean up.

If that figure is reached, federal disaster assistance will be available to individuals in the area, as well as to cities and counties.

Winneshiek County Emergency Government Coordinator Sean Snyder says the $4.3 million total has not been reached yet, which is why local officials are working hard to make sure all damage has been inspected and the figures have been forwarded to the State of Iowa.

There's no deadline for collecting the figures about the financial impact of the August 23rd flooding, but the sooner FEMA is shown that the flooding caused at least $4.3 million in damages, the sooner federal financial aid for Northeast Iowa can be made available.