Bremer County has been declared a Presidential Disaster Area. FEMA is accepting applications for individual assistance for affected Bremer County and City of Waverly residents. Residents wishing to register for assistance can call (800) 621-3362 or apply online at www.fema.gov.
Bremer County has been declared a state disaster area by the governor. Residents can find an application form on the Department of Human Services (DHS) Web site at http://www.dhs.state.ia.us Look for the “Storm Help” link for the form and line-by-line instructions on how to fill it out. Additional help is available from any DHS county office or county emergency management office. For more information, call DHS at 1-877-937-3663. This program is based on income. Applications must be completed within 45 days of the declaration. Currently applications are due July 9, 2008. All receipts must accompany the application.
FEMA Denial Letters Can Be Appealed!
Storm-impacted residents who receive a FEMA Ineligibility/Benefits Denied letter are encouraged to visit the Disaster Recovery Center located at the Waverly-Shell Rock High School Commons. Officials with FEMA will explain the cause of the denial of benefits and assist with the appeal process if applicable. A denial letter may mean:
- More information is needed about insurance, damage, or the applicant
- Verification is needed about the property ownership or occupancy
- The identity of the applicant has not been verified
A “Benefits Denied” letter does not necessarily mean the applicant will not receive assistance from FEMA. The letter may indicate additional information is necessary to proceed with the application.
Grants for Nonprofits — National Emergency Grant Disaster Recovery
Public and private non-profits in Region 7 (Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Buchanan & Grundy counties) are eligible to receive emergency assistance with disaster clean-up and recovery. Please contact Jeanie Wright (291-2705, ext. 281) or Sue Petersen (291-2705, ext. 282) as soon as possible if you are interested in more information.
Through the National Emergency Grant (NEG) Hawkeye Community College’s Iowa @Work will hire dislocated workers for temporary clean-up/recovery jobs. We will:
- Pay the prevailing wage (as paid to similarly employed workers)
- Provide workplace equipment such as work gloves, safety glasses, work boots, etc.
- Provide worker’s comp insurance
- Be the employer of record
For more information see the following documents:
National Emergency Disaster Recovery Grant Recruitment Memo
Program Information
Websites of Interest:
- FloodSmart.gov: Official Site of the National Flood Insurance Program
- Federal Emergency Management Agency: FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terrorism.
- FEMA for Kids: A website for kids to understand what FEMA does and teaches kids how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage. You can also learn what causes disasters, play games, and read stories. This site also includes resources for parents and teachers.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC page provides basic facts to remember that will help protect your personal health and safety.
- Iowa Attorney General Website: Tom Miller, the Iowa Attorney General, has posted consumer alerts to those affected by the recent natural disasters. Some of the alerts include tips on hiring a contractor or avoiding con-artists who pose as government workers.
- Small Business Association Disaster Assistance: SBA provides low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery & equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.
- IRS Disaster Relief: As a result, the IRS is postponing until July 28 certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts otherwise due between May 25 and July 28. Other information is available from the press release.
