Iowa Disaster Assistance
Iowa Governor's Proclamations
State resources may be activated and deployed to assist with the ongoing disaster at no cost to local jurisdictions. State resources include equipment, personnel, technical assistance/guidance, supplies, and essential services to provide assistance in the form of debris removal, traffic control, levee patrol, security, vaccines, transportation, and other emergency response and recovery capabilities. A governor’s proclamation may also make assistance available to low income residents in the proclaimed counties.
Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program (IIAGP)
Sometimes referred to as State Individual Assistance or State IA; it 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.
Eligibility:
- Annual household income is at or less than 200% of the federal poverty level
- Household members are citizens or legally residing in the United States
- Household's primary and occupied residence is in the county indicated in the disaster proclamation
- The household has disaster-related needs not fully covered by insurance and not met by another assistance program
| 2024 National Poverty Guidelines | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 200% of Federal Poverty Level (annual income) | 30,120 | $40,880 | $51,640 | $62,400 | $73,160 | $83,920 | $94,680 | $105,440 |
How to Apply:
Applicants can submit an online application through the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department web site
or
Download a PDF of the application from the HSEMD web site and turn it into the appropriate local community action agency. Go here to find you local agency.
Disaster Case Advocacy Program
Disaster Case Advocacy is a supportive program involving a partnership between a disaster-impacted household and a disaster case advocate. Disaster case advocates walk beside households through the disaster recovery process. They serve as a primary point of contact assisting households in coordinating necessary services and resources to address the household's complex disaster recovery needs. In this partnership, advocates and households assess the family's disaster-related unmet needs, build a recovery plan, and access available resources.
Disaster-related unmet needs are those things households need to recover from the disaster. Examples may include navigating through insurance, financial resources, and application processes; and locating housing options, advocating and supporting through the rebuilding process. Unmet needs may also include basic and immediate needs such as food, clothing, shelter or first aid, and long term needs such as financial, physical, emotional or spiritual well-being.
Eligibility:
- No income restrictions
- Household's primary and occupied residence is in the county indicated in the disaster proclamation
- Household has disaster-related needs that represent a burden that the family is unable to resolve
- Household members are citizens or legally residing in the United States
How to Apply:
Applicants can submit an online Inquiry Form through the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department web site
or
Individuals and households can reach out to the local Community Action Agency to get connected with a disaster case advocate. Go here to find you local agency.
Assistance and Advocacy FAQs
What is the difference between state Individual Assistance (IIAGP) and federal Individual Assistance?
The IIAGP is often shortened in conversation and referred to as State IA or State Individual Assistance. This program is activated by a governor’s proclamation and provides grants up to $7,000 to eligible households for items that qualify under one of the four categories: temporary housing, food assistance, personal property, and home repair. Applicants have 45 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation to apply. This is a State of Iowa program.
The federal Individual Assistance Program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is activated when a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance is made. The federal Individual Assistance is made available to homeowners, renters and businesses and can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs. Individuals may also be eligible for other needs assistance including medical and dental expenses and replacement of essential personal property such as furniture, clothing and some appliances.
If a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance is issued for a county that is also receiving the IIAGP, the IIAGP is automatically turned off for that county.
What is the difference between the DCA program and the federal DCMP?
The DCA program is Iowa’s disaster case advocacy program to support impacted residents navigating through the recovery process. DCA is activated by a governor’s proclamation along with the IIAGP.
The federal Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) is activated when a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance is approved and the federal Disaster Case
Management Program (DCMP) is requested and awarded. This funding is awarded to supplement Iowa’s local capacity to provide case management services to individuals. Funding supports the existing disaster case advocacy framework operating in Iowa during the disaster event.
What is SBA and how does it relate to the state programs?
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. SBA loans can be used by businesses of all sizes located in declared disaster areas, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters affected by declared disasters. A governor’s proclamation does not automatically result in SBA disaster assistance. The governor’s request for SBA deployment is a separate action from the proclamation process.