Disaster Funds for Iowa
Following the devastating floods and tornadoes which hit the state in the summer of 2008, the Rebuild Iowa Office with its federal, state and local partners has secured more than $3.3 billion in funding to help Iowa recover. This total continues to grow as the Rebuild Iowa Office works to help Iowa rebuild from these disasters.
Committed, Appropriated & Expended
Committed funds are defined as those funds that have been promised to the State of Iowa for disaster recovery but are in various stages of program approval and are not necessary yet available for use or appropriated to specific projects.
Appropriated funds are those that have been designated to specific projects, areas or individuals.
Expended funds are those that have actually been spent on specific needs.
RIO Monthly Disaster Relief Funding Charts
Each month, the Rebuild Iowa Office releases updated charts detailing the movement of disaster relief funds and the progress made in getting these funds out the door.
Click here for the Disaster Relief Funding Charts from 11/09/09.
Monthly County-by-County Funding Information
The document linked to below is the estimated funding from multiple sources for the 2008 Iowa Disasters Recovery Efforts provided by the Rebuild Iowa Office via multiple government and other entities. The amounts shown are estimates based upon the most recent available data and are subject to change. In many cases, accurate county-level funding is not available, so total county figures do not represent a complete picture of available funding. The document will be updated once per month with any new available data.
Click here for the Disaster Relief Funding Spreadsheet.
RIO Comparative Charts
Click here for a chart detailing the top 10 disasters of 2008 (based on FEMA Public Assistance numbers).
Click here for a chart comparing Iowa's disasters of 2008 to the Iowa flooding of 1993.
Types of Funds
FEMA Housing and Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Funds
These federal funds are administered through FEMA and the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and go to disaster victims immediately following the disaster to cover personal property losses, repairs and other items. The deadline for this program has passed. Applications are now only accepted through an appeal process.
Hazard Mitigation Funds
These federal funds will be used for hazard mitigation measures (not direct disaster recovery) including property acquisitions for green space and other forms of mitigation. This allocation figure is an estimate, not a final figure. This amount is calculated by FEMA based on other disaster costs that are still changing. The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) is currently working with communities on their applications for this program.
State/FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Funds
This funding is commonly known as “Public Assistance” and goes towards the repair and replacement of public infrastructure including buildings, roads and bridges damaged in the disaster. It is currently estimated that more than $1 billion will be spent in Iowa through this program, on track to make Iowa's 2008 summer disaster the fifth largest in U.S. history.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Funds
These federal funds are low-interest loans for disaster-affected homeowners and business owners. In some cases, those approved for a loan choose not to take it.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds
Federal CDBG funds are currently being used to fund Jumpstart Housing (including home repair, down payment assistance and interim mortgage assistance), Small Project Rental Rehabilitation, Jumpstart Small Business and Disaster Recovery Case Management. The Jumpstart programs and Rental Rehabilitation are administered through 11 cities and Councils of Government (COGs). The Disaster Recovery Case Management funds go to Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs)around the state. Future plans for this funding include infrastructure, housing acquisitions, new housing production and flood plain mapping.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Funds
These programs are administered directly through federal offices including the Farm Services Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service and include the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP). No state agencies are involved in administering these federal funds and expenditure amounts have not been made available.
Initial State Jumpstart Funds
These state funds were transferred from other state programs by the Governor and Executive Council to serve as a bridge to federal funding for Jumpstart Housing and Small Business Assistance and were made available in Sept. 2008.
State Executive Council Funds
These state funds were transfers authorized by the State Executive Council to cover Iowa’s 10% Cost Share for the FEMA Public Assistance Program, the State/Local 25% Cost Share for other FEMA programs, and necessary HSEMD Extraordinary Costs. Much of this will be held aside until near the end of the infrastructure projects. This funding will also be used to help support disaster recovery case management efforts.
Iowa Finance Authority Tax Credits
These federal low income Housing Tax Credits were approved in December 2008 for several affordable housing projects around the state. They will be used over 10 years.
U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Funds
These federal funds are to assist the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) with disaster-related transportation costs, including repairs and other expenses.
National Emergency Grant Funds
These federal funds are currently being used for the Emergency Public Jobs (EPJ) program. This program provides work for disaster-affected and unemployed Iowans on projects in disaster-affected counties. Individuals can work for approximately 6 months in the program and can earn up to $12,000. Individuals are paid at the prevailing rate for the worksite, which provides higher compensation than unemployment insurance benefits.
Social Services Block Grant Funds
These federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will primarily be used for disaster-related mental health programs, public health needs and services for the elderly. They are not approved for use until HHS approves the state’s action plan. These funds will be administered through the Iowa Departments of Human Services, Public Health and Elder Affairs.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance Funds
These federal funds provided temporary financial assistance to individuals unemployed due to Iowa's summer disasters of 2008. This program has ended and is no longer available.
Economic Development Administration (EDA) Funds
These federal funds support the development of a strategy for planning the economic recovery from Iowa's summer disasters of 2008.
Crisis Counseling Grant Funds
These federal funds include support for disaster programs including Project Recovery Iowa, a post-disaster counseling program assisting affected individuals and families. Thus far, nearly 11,000 Iowans have received one-on-one counseling with professional mental health care providers. The program is divided into immediate needs and long-term needs. Iowa is now in the long-term phase.
State Scholarship and Grant Reserve Funds
These state funds provided scholarships for college students impacted by Iowa's summer disasters of 2008. The funds were all awarded prior to the 2008 school year.
Iowa Disaster Recovery Bill Funds
These state funds allocated by HF 64 in February 2009 include Jumpstart Iowa Housing Assistance (repair and downpayment assistance), the Individual Unmet Needs Disaster Grant program, and Community Disaster Grants for cities and counties affected by Iowa's summer disasters of 2008. The Individual Unmet Needs Program is being administered through local Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs).
National Endowment for the Arts Emergency Support Funds
The Iowa Arts Council (Department of Cultural Affairs) received a $100,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant in 2008 to assist artists and arts organizations in their disaster recovery.
Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA)
This program, normally used for loans and forgivable loans to assist small businesses during normal times, is also being made available with loosened restrictions to disaster-affected businesses. Applications for this disaster assistance must be submitted within 12 months of the disaster declaration date.
Administration on Aging Funds
Disaster-related funding through the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs.
Regents Bonding Funds
Disaster-related bonding (Senate File 474)
I-Jobs Bonding Funds
Disaster-related bonding through I-Jobs (Senate File 376).