(Pottawattamie County) The storm recovery efforts continue in Pottawattamie County.
On Wednesday, Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were deployed in Pottawattamie County, informing residents affected by the April 26th tornadoes of FEMA resources that may be available to them.
Officials from Pottawattamie County Emergency Management met with FEMA representatives to collaborate on a strategic plan for deployment. DSA teams immediately began door-to-door communication with disaster survivors in rural areas of the northwest and south-central regions of the county. Once teams have saturated these areas, communication efforts will shift to affected residents inside city limits, including those in Council Bluffs and Minden. The communication process is expected to take several days to complete.
The two agencies also work together to establish a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). DRCs are temporary offices that support impacted areas and communities after a disaster.
The communication efforts for FEMA assistance come one day after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Pottawattamie County under the Stafford Act was approved, opening the possibility for additional assistance for disaster-affected residents.
A local, state, and federal damage assessment conducted last week has determined that residents in Pottawattamie County are eligible to apply for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program.