Second presidential disaster area designation--nice, but not major

Now that President Obama has signed another federal disaster area designation, Winneshiek County has two chances to apply for federal aid.

However, the first disaster declaration will be more important to Winneshiek County than the second one.  The first declaration covered August's flooding damage to public infrastructure--an estimated total of $2.2 million in damages.

The second declaration covers September's flooding damage to public infrastructure--estimated ot be under $300,000.

Winneshiek County Engineer Lee Bjerke says the two federal disaster area declarations will give the county some flexibility on which pool of money it will apply for.  He says structures that were damaged in the first flood, then damaged again in the second flood could be eligible for either source of federal funding.