The state is offering grants to low-income Iowans in five southwest Iowa counties who suffered damage from flooding. Roger Munns of the Iowa Department of Human Services says the money is left over from the fund originally created for winter storm victims. Munns says people with low incomes can apply for reimbursement for expenses caused by the storms for up to $3,300.
Munns says you’re eligible for a grant if you live in Pottawattamie, Harrison, Montgomery, Fremont or Decatur counties. Munns says you can get up to $1,000 for storm-caused expenses for making the dwelling safe, sanitary, and secure; up to $300 for an electrician to help bring power back to a dwelling; up to $560 for storm-related damage to appliances or food; up to $425 for purchase and installation of a water heater; up to $500 for damage to a vehicle, and up to $50 a day for lodging or rental expenses in case high water forced you to leave your home.
Munns says you simply have to apply for the grant. He says you can go to any DHS office or county emergency management office. Or you can go on-line at www.dhs.iowa.gov, and click on the link called Spring Storm Help. Munns says you do need to keep verification of your expenses.
Munns says some people had trouble getting the grants the first time around because they did not keep their receipts. Munns says you need to keep your receipts for flood-related expenses. Munns says you are eligible if your household annual income is 130 percent or less of federal poverty guidelines, which is $13,273 for a single individual, $17,797 for a family of two and $26,845 for a family of four. Munns says the Iowa Legislature allocated one million dollars for the fund for the March storms and only about $150,000 was used.