Osceola and Pottawattamie counties have been added to the recent flooding declaration of June 16-July 23. Pottawattamie was initially designated for disaster assistance after the severe storms and tornadoes April 26-27, 2024.
FEMA teams will begin visiting neighborhoods in the additional counties to help survivors of record flooding in northeast and northwest Iowa.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams work in coordination with state and county emergency management.
FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance.
The teams help survivors apply with FEMA and address immediate and emerging needs. They also provide application status updates and referrals to community resources.
FEMA staff can easily be identified by their federal photo identification and FEMA clothing. Residents are encouraged to ask for official photo ID before providing personal information.
How to Apply with FEMA
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
- Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)
- Download and use the FEMA app
- FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. Press 2 for Spanish.
Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.
Types of FEMA Assistance Available
FEMA is offering a wide variety of help to people affected by the recent severe weather. Every homeowner and renter who suffered damage is encouraged to apply.
FEMA can provide money to eligible applicants for help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance.
Money provided by FEMA does not have to be repaid and may include:
- Serious Needs: Money for lifesaving and life-sustaining items, including water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
- Displacement: Money to help with housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options while you look for a rental unit.
- Home Repair: Money to help you repair your home damaged by the disaster. The money can also help with pre-existing damage to parts of your home where the disaster caused further damage.
- Rental Assistance: Money you can use to rent housing if you are displaced from your home because of the disaster.
- Personal Property: Money to help you repair or replace appliances, room furnishings, and a personal or family computer damaged by the disaster. This can also include money for books, uniforms, tools, medical equipment and other items required for school or work, including self-employment.
- Child Care: Money to help you pay for increased childcare expenses caused by the disaster.
- Transportation: Money to help you repair or replace a vehicle damaged by the disaster when you don’t have another vehicle you can use.
- Moving and Storage Expenses: Money to help you move and store personal property from your home to prevent additional damage.