Flood Recovery Efforts In Black Hawk County - Volunteers Needed!

The Black Hawk County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) have began prioritizing and assessing flood recovery efforts. This collective group is made up of voluntary agencies, businesses, and governmental agencies in order to allow for more effective preparedness, response and recovery.  

 The early response to the recovery is identifying emergency food and shelter followed by clean-up and assessment of damages.  The early assessments will be compiled by the 211 service.  Residents who have damage to report should call 211, 319-739-4211, or 1-866-469-2241.  The information collected on the call includes name, address, telephone number, age of oldest in the household, type of damage, type of insurance coverage and volunteer need. 

 Gov. Terry Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency activating the Iowa Individual Assistance Program providing grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the current federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $40,320, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to disaster recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim. Locally the applications will be taken by Operation Threshold, 319 -291-2065.

 Those interested in volunteering to assist with recovery efforts should complete volunteer interest form through the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley's website. Groups and individuals being accepted.

 For more information about ways to provide assistance, please contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.