first on decorahnews.com: Chances are good Northeast Iowa will qualify as a federal disaster area

Emergency government officials from the State of Iowa are back in Winneshiek County and the rest of Northeast Iowa this week.  They're helping local officials to compile figures about the amount of money it will take to repair public facilities damaged by recent 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.

Winneshiek County Emergency Government Coordinator Sean Snyder says the $4.3 million total has now been surpassed.  If those figures hold up as the state officials continue to help local officials compile a total, the federal disaster status designation could be made as early as later this month.

Snyder says it's important to state that the FEMA federal disaster area status helps with funding to repair public damages--not those of private property owners.  There are other programs in place now to handle those needs.

But federal funds to help local governments recover from damage to roads and other infrastructure would mean those costs would not have to be paid through local property taxes.