Emergency

Recent Disaster Information

July 15 Severe Storm And Tornado

Damage assessment and information gathering is underway. Please check back for more information in the coming days.

The City of Urbandale is providing curbside debris pickup automatically for residents east of 86th St and south of Douglas Ave. Other residents can call the city to request pickup. Vegetative debris should be separated from other types of debris. Full details can be found here.

The City of Des Moines is providing free curbside debris pickup for areas hardest hit by the tornado. Please see this link to see if your neighborhood is included.

The City of Windsor Heights is providing curbside debris pickup from 63rd to 69th Street between Washington and Hickman Avenues. See this link for a map and debris guidelines.

May 20-21 Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Governor Kim Reynolds announced today that President Biden has approved Iowa’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms and widespread flooding that occurred on May 21, 2024. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now authorized to provide assistance to Adair, Polk, Story, and Montgomery counties. 

Residents in Polk County can now apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance.
There are three ways to apply with FEMA:
• Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362); or
• Download and use the FEMA app
FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis.

 

Residents in Polk County can now apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, which provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses with programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance.
There are three ways to apply with FEMA:
• Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362); or
• Download and use the FEMA app
FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis.

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The Governor has issued a Disaster Proclamation of Emergency for Polk County due to the May 20 and continuing severe storms and flooding. More information is available on the proclamation here, and on the Iowa Individual Grant Assistance Program here. With a federal declaration now in place, federal assistance programs through FEMA are now in place, the Iowa Individual Grant Assistance Program is shut off.

Debris Management Plans
Normal yard waste pick up programs will continue, and may be an option for those without a special pickup, or unable to meet deadlines.

Residents who do not want to cut tree debris to the appropriate size for collection or want to expedite the cleanup may use the following:

  • Metro Park East Landfill (12181 University Avenue NE, Mitchellville, IA)
  • Metro Park West Landfill (2499 337th Street, Perry, IA)

Visit the Metro Waste Authority website www.mwatoday.com/waste-recycling/yard-waste/storm-debris for more information.

Alleman: Dumpsters will be located at 13038 NE 14th St, and at City Hall beginning May 22, and continuing into the week of May 27. City residents can deliver vegetative debris to dumpsters.

Altoona: Residential Brush Drop site will be open for residents Friday, May 24 and Tuesday, May 28, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM both days.

Ankeny: Curbside pickup beginning on Thursday, May 30. Diameter of branches should be no more than 18" and no less than 1". Debris should be placed by 7 AM on May 30. Pickup may take up to 3 weeks.

Additionally, tree and branch recycling event moved up to Saturday, June 1, 9 AM to 3 PM at City Maintenance Facility at 211 SE Lorenz Dr. Only trees and branches over 1" and under 8" in diameter will be accepted. Residents responsible for hauling to event.

Clive: Curbside pickup for areas east of Interstate 35/80. Collection will be Tuesday, May 28, beginning at 7 AM. Debris should be placed before 7 AM. Maximum size of 18 inches in diameter and 4-foot lengths. Please separate smaller debris from larger trunks and branches. Wider end of debris should be placed toward curb for easier chipper loading.

Des Moines: Complimentary yard waste pick up for all residents the week of May 27. Compost It! stickers will not be necessary, but bundle size restrictions should still be observed. SCRUB site at City of Des Moines Compost Center, 1601 Harriet St. will be open Saturday 5/25 for all DSM residents.

Grimes: No special pickup. Compost It! Program or City Log & Limb program are encouraged.

Johnston: Curbside assistance, single pass occuring Tuesday, May 28. Debris must be placed for pick up in right of way by 6 AM on the 28th. Vegetative material worked on by private contractors not eligible. Contractors are required to remove debris resulting from their work. Maximiums: 18-inch diameter, and 10-feet in length. Larger debris must be handled by private contractor.

Pleasant Hill: No special pickup. Normal Compost It! Program encouraged.

Polk County Unincorporated (including White Oak): Roadside pickup. No size restrictions. One pass only beginning Tuesday, May 28. Expected to take 2 weeks.

Urbandale: Materials must be placed at curb, parallel to street, before Tuesday, May 28. Citizens are encouraged to use Compost It! Program for smaller debris.

West Des Moines: Curbside assistance will occur on Tuesday, May 28. Branches of any size will be collected. Branches must be placed parallel to curb in the right-of-way, and should be placed prior to the 28th to ensure pickup. Ensure debris is not near fire hydrants, mailboxes, utilities, or other obstacles that could be damaged. Refrain from street parking.

Windsor Heights: Curbside assistance ending Wednesday, May 29. Final pass begins 8 AM Wednesday 5/29. Debris must be out by Tue 5/28 Debris must not be placed on concrete. Any debris placed on concrete will not be picked up. Maximums: 6ft length, 16-inch diameter

Compost It! Program Guidelines (for participating jurisdictions)

Brush, sticks, and twigs are all accepted in the Compost It! program. If you're disposing of a brush bundle, please follow the following guidelines:

Each bundle requires one green Compost It! sticker and CAN'T EXCEED:
•40 lbs.
•4 feet in length
•18 inches in diameter

Large branches can be included in brush bundles but must be cut down to the following size:
•4 feet in length
•10 inches in diameter
Not accepted... Logs, stumps, rocks, and dirt are all items that are not accepted in the Compost It! program.

Disaster Assistance Available - April 26th Tornado

If you sustained losses from the April 26th storms you can begin applying for assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Other options include registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or downloading the FEMA app.  More information available HERE.

Information regarding the severe weather and tornadoes from April 26, 2024 in Polk County will be posted here as available. Please check back here for more information.

**Starting Monday, May 13, Pleasant Hill Public Works crews will collect storm debris on Mondays and Tuesdays only. The last day for storm debris collection will be Tuesday, May 28. This will allow them to move forward with regularly scheduled projects and improvements on the non-collection days. Please cut storm debris to 6-foot lengths if possible.

 

Polk County Media Release 5/1/2024: Tips From Polk County To Avoid Fraud And Scams

Pleasant Hill Media Release 5/1/2024: City Of Pleasant Hill Mayor Signs Emergency Proclamation

The Governor Of Iowa has declared a state of disaster for Polk County.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program is a state-funded grant program that offers grants up to $5,000 to eligible households for items that qualify under one of the four categories:

  • Temporary housing
  • Food assistance
  • Personal property
  • Home repair

The IIAGP is activated when the Governor issues a disaster proclamation turning on IIAGP for the affected counties.  Applicants have 45 days from the date of the Governor's proclamation to apply.  If a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance is issued for a county for the same incident, the IIAGP is automatically turned off for that county and the federal program goes into effect.
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More information regarding road closures and debris removal information can be found at this website from Pleasant Hill.

2-1-1 is currently handling resource needs as well as resource offers for those in the areas of Pleasant Hill, Altoona, and unincorporated Polk County affected by Friday night's storm. Representatives with the United Way and 2-1-1 will help link offers with needs. Please do not self-report to the area.

Financial donations are the best way to help and can be made through the Disaster Recovery Fund. Material donations are not requested at this time. More information on the Disaster Recovery Fund and the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines can be found here.   

At this time volunteers are not requested in the area, especially as power restoration is ongoing. Future volunteer opportunities are expected. Registering with Volunteer Iowa is the best way to get involved.

Press Release: 4-27-2024 Polk County Responds To Tornado Damage


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