Governor Branstad has issued a disaster proclamation for Taylor County following Wednesday’s tornadoes. The proclamation allows state resources to be used to help the county recover from the storm.
The town of Lenox was the hardest hit, with Mayor Glen Grout saying up to 15 city blocks have heavy damage — and another 20 have moderate damage.
The Iowa D.O.T. is already providing trucks, loaders and wood chippers to help clear out the large number of trees that were downed by the story.
Other state agencies will help remove and dispose of the storm debris. The proclamation also makes residents eligible for the state individual assistance grant program that provides money for some storm-related expenses.