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POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
2024 Disaster Incidents
The spring and summer severe weather season has resulted in 3 concurrently running Major Presidential Disaster Declarations for the county. Impacts have included destroyed & significantly damaged properties from tornadoes & flooding, closed businesses, destroyed crops, & have caused injuries & a fatality.
New State Proclamation of Disaster Emergency Issued
July 31, 2024 - Severe Storms & Destructive Winds
Many areas of the county were impacted by severe storms and destructive winds prompting vehicle accidents, tree damage, structural damages, electrical infrastructure damages & outages, and caused 1 reported injury. A State Proclamation of disaster emergency has been issued by the Governor for Pottawattamie County making impacted residents eligible for the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant and the Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program. The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants up to $7,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Disaster Case Advocacy is a free assistance program with no income qualifiers. Case Advocates can assist households in assessing disaster-related needs and accessing available assistance programs. Click HERE to submit an inquiry for participation or you may contact West Central Community Action at 712-322-2621.
Current Federal Disaster Declarations
#4779 Severe Storms & Tornadoes
#4779 Severe Storms & Tornadoes
#4779 Severe Storms & Tornadoes
- Period: April 26 - 27, 2024
- Individual Assistance (IA): Homeowners, Renters, Businesses
- IA Deadline: August 23, 2024
- Public Assistance (PA): Government, Non-profits
- PA Deadline: August 18, 2024
- Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy available
- State Temporary Housing assistance
- Local assistance resources available
- State Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program available
#4784 Severe Storms & Flooding
#4779 Severe Storms & Tornadoes
#4779 Severe Storms & Tornadoes
- Period: May 20-31, 2024
- Public Assistance (PA): Government, Non-profits
- PA Deadline: August 30, 2024
- Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy available
- Local assistance resources available
#4796 Flooding & Severe Storms
#4779 Severe Storms & Tornadoes
#4796 Flooding & Severe Storms
- Period: June 16-July 23, 2024
- Individual Assistance (IA): Homeowners, Renters, Businesses
- IA Deadline: Open
- Public Assistance (PA): Pending
- PA Deadline: September 6, 2024
- Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy available
- State Temporary Housing assistance PENDING
- Local assistance resources available
- State Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program available
State & Federal Assistance Programs Portal
Click logo to access
Click logo to access
Click logo to access
- Disaster Case Advocacy
- Temporary Housing
- Housing Assistance
- New Housing Grant
- Farm Interest Program
- Disaster Unemployment
- Tax Relief
- Iowa Insurance Division
- DNR Disaster Resources
- Health & Human Services
Click logo to access
Click logo to access
Click logo to access
- Temporary Housing funds
- Repair/replacement funds
- Temporary Housing Units
- Funds for insurance gaps
- Mitigation assistance
- Other needs assistance
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Click logo to access
Click logo to access
- Physical damage loans
- Mitigation assistance
- Economic injury loans
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Click logo to access
Click logo to access
- Livestock indemnity
- Emergency livestock assistance
- Tree assistance
- Noninsured crop assistance
- Farm & emergency loans
- Nutritional assistance
Disaster Recovery Center Operations
FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are facilities and mobile offices and are open to all disaster survivors. We open DRCs in or near affected communities, in places that offer the same access and resources to everyone. DRC staff are there to guide you to the help you need after a disaster.
You may visit a DRC to learn about disaster assistance programs, apply for disaster assistance, check the status of your FEMA application, help you understand FEMA notices or letters, find housing and rental assistance information, get referrals to agencies, or meet with a Small Business Administration (SBA) agent. Click here to discover 3 ways how to apply for FEMA assistance.
FEMA DRCs in Pottawattamie County:
Pottawattamie County Veterans Service Office
623 6th Avenue, Council Bluffs
Open 1 pm, August 5
Open 8 am-6pm starting August 6 & continuing (closed Sundays)
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams (DSA)
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) Teams have been deployed in Pottawattamie County to help impacted residents apply with FEMA and address immediate and emerging needs related to the most recent flooding and severe weather events. FEMA Individual Assistance remains available for the April 26th disaster as well. Teams will visit areas impacted from those events to provide survivors with application status updates and referrals to community resources. Those impacted by the April tornadoes have until August 23rd to apply for FEMA assistance.
DSA personnel can be easily identified by their federal photo identification and FEMA clothing. Residents are encouraged to ask for official photo ID before providing personal information.
SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRC)
The Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans after a disaster to help businesses of all sizes, non-profit organizations and individual households. Representatives of businesses of all sizes, non-profit organizations and individual households are welcome to visit SBA Business Recovery Centers. All SBA Business Recovery Centers will be closed on July 4 and reopen normal schedule July 5. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SBA DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
Pottawattamie County Business Recovery Center
Minden Fire Station (Meeting Room)
207 Main St, Minden
9am-6pm, Monday - Friday
8am - 2pm, Saturdays
Local Assistance Programs & Resources
Our southwest Iowa communities are coping with heartbreaking loss and destruction caused by a series of tornadoes and storms.
Whether you need assistance in your recovery or you want to help those impacted, the link below will connect you to services and programs available.
As recovery efforts move forward in the areas impacted by these events your monetary contributions support the service organizations meeting the needs of disaster survivors. For some, recovery will be a long process and will require ongoing support on their journey. Please consider contributing to the funds available at the link below. Current funds include:
- Southwest Iowa Disaster Relief Fund
- Minden, Iowa Community Fund
2024 DISASTERS | ONGOING & LONG-TERM NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY