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Disaster Assistance

Disaster Programs

When the Governor releases a proclamation of disaster activating the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program (IIAGP), it activates the Community Action Agencies serving the disaster-affected county(ies) to provide Disaster Case Advocacy services.

Please see the training that provides an overview of Iowa Community Action Agencies and their role during times of state and federally declared disasters.

Did you know?

Iowa’s Community Action Network began administering the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program (IIAGP) in 2012. Since then, almost all 99 counties have been activated for response and IIAGP has provided assistance to thousands of Iowans.

 

Iowa 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; locating housing options, advocating and supporting through the rebuild process; 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.

Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS)

The Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS) is a web platform developed by the Iowa Flood Center (IFC) at the University of Iowa. IFIS provides information regarding flood conditions, flood forecasts, data visualizations, and flood-related data, information and applications. The IFIS helps communities make better-informed decisions on the occurrence of floods, and alerts communities in advance to help minimize damage of floods. Click here for more information on the system. 

Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program

IIAGP offers grants to families whose household’s annual income is at 200% or less of the federal poverty level . Each eligible household may receive up to $5,000 for items that qualify under one of the four categories: temporary housing, food assistance, personal property, and home repair. Supporting documentation is required.

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. Check the Counties with Active Proclamations section for IIAGP deadlines. If a presidential disaster declaration for Individual Assistance is issued for a county for the same event, the IIAGP is automatically turned off for that county and the federal program goes into effect.

All Local Agencies Offer the Program