Fremont County residents urged to seek Federal aid without declaration

Fremont County in far southwestern Iowa is not among the counties designated as a federal disaster area, but a Fremont County official is urging residents to apply for federal flood aid anyway. Bart Bartholemeuw, the Fremont County Emergency Management Coordinator, believes federal assistance is available to residents in counties that aren’t covered by a presidential disaster declaration, and he’s urging home owners and businesses to call the Federal Emergency Management Agency and make a claim. Bartholemeuw hopes the calls will convince federal officials to declare Fremont County a federal disaster area. The county is one of the counties Governor Vilsack’s declared a state disaster area. Bartholemeuw says his county received lots of flood damage, but clean-up’s well underway.He says most streets have been cleared of debris, but tree limbs still clutter many yards. Bartholemeuw is keeping a close eye on the Nishnabotna River.He says the river’s been up and down, but as long as rain doesn’t fall to the north, the river shouldn’t flood. Bartholemeuw’s main concern has been getting the debris that’s clogging up the river near bridges. Bartholemeuw says Fremont County farmers who’ve suffered flood damage should call their local Farm Service Agency.