Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has asked President Trump for a federal disaster declaration and 16 million dollars in federal assistance to help 30 counties recover from severe storms and flooding in June and July. Osceola County in Northwest Iowa received lots of rainfall and flash flooding during that time that even force one city to evacuate residents. County Engineer Aaron Holmbech says water flowed over roads and bridges causing damage.
Holmbech estimates Osceola County is facing more than 500-thousand dollars worth of damages. Cherokee County is also in the federal disaster request. Sam Kooiker (Quaker) from the City of Cherokee says flooding ruined parts of a park and green space, that will need to be replanted. Kookier (Quaker) points to Rock Valley in Sioux County as suffering a bigger disaster — with more than 50 homes that had to be evacuated due to flooding — but says his city still needs some help.
Members of the Iowa Congressional delegation have sent a letter to the president asking him to quickly approve the disaster declaration.
Other counties included in the disaster request are: Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sioux, Story, Webster, Winnebago, and Wright.
