Disaster area declaration will mean up to $85,000 in reimbursements to Winneshiek County governments

(decorahnews.com file photo)

Friday's decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to include Winneshiek County in the disaster area from last August's storms in Northeast Iowa is good news for local governments.

With the revised declaration, Winneshiek County governments are now eligible to have their storm damage costs reimbursed by the state and federal governments.  FEMA will pay 75 percent of the costs incurred, while state emergency government funds will pay another 15 percent.

The storm cost local governments in Winneshiek County around $95,000.  That means the governments will get repaid for all but $9,500 in their expenses.