Iowa tornadoes: Biden declares federal disaster for eight counties

(WOWT) - More than two weeks after a deadly tornado devastated the small town of Minden, Iowa, President Biden has officially declared a federal disaster in eight counties working to recover.

Pottawattamie, Mills, and Shelby counties are among those now elligible for financial assistance from the federal government, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help residents and business owners recover from the effects of April 26 tornadoes. Clarke, Harrison, Polk, Ringgold, and Union counties were also included in Biden’s disaster declaration; Crawford County was not.

As a result of Biden’s declaration, residents and business owners in those counties affected by the storm can begin applying for assistance:

Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
Use the FEMA App
More information on FEMA.gov

Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a state of emergency for Pottawattamie County within hours of the storm that fatally injured 63-year-old Nicholas Ring. In its earlier report on the storm, the county EMA said about 120 homes and businesses had sustained varying degrees of damage, and that utilities in the area had been disrupted.

TORNADO RECOVERY

Apply for FEMA aid, IRS tax relief

Federal agencies are working to get financial assistance to Nebraskans working to recover from the April 26 tornadoes.

Skyelar Edens sent us photos of damage from Friday's tornado in Bennington.

How to help — and find help

Here are ways you can assist those in Nebraska and Iowa who are recovering from tornadoes that hit on Friday, April 26.

"Thank you everybody" is seend spray painted on a damaged home Monday in Elkhorn. The area was...

Reynolds paid a visit to Minden the following day and later added eight additional counties to her declaration. A few days later, she later visited the Shelby County town of Harlan to tour damage left behind by the April 26 tornadoes.

On May 2, Reynolds and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen urged Biden to issue the federal disaster and release recovery funds to hardest-hit areas in both states. The next day, the president made the emergency declaration for two of the three counties requested by Nebraska; Lancaster County was not included.

Congressman Randy Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s 4th District, issued a statement applauding Tuesday’s federal declaration.

“Following last month’s devastating tornadoes, I joined Governor Reynolds in calling for immediate relief for Minden and other impacted communities. I’m glad that President Biden today answered our call and approved federal support to help our families and communities rebuild. I will continue to stand with our neighbors in Minden and our communities in Southwest Iowa as they recover.”
Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa

—

This is a developing story. Stay with 6 News for updates.

—

Get breaking news updates delivered to your inbox. Sign up for 6 News email alerts.