Ten Iowa counties have been declared federal disaster areas, releasinggovernment grants and loans for those affected by recent tornadoes andfloods. The Presidential disaster declaration covers Black Hawk, Bremer,Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jones, Linn and Fayette in northeastIowa due to flooding — and it covers Harrison county in western Iowa due tolast Sunday’s tornado. Vice President Al Gore put the wheels in motiontoday.Gore thanked the volunteers who have helped fight the floods and clean upstorm damage.Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has activated the state anti-price-gougingrule for counties declared disaster areas. The rule is intended to protectdisaster victims from having to pay unreasonably high prices for supplies orother items. The Attorney General says complaints about price gouging can bereported to local authorities or to his office at 515-281-5926.
