Monday morning’s disastrous derecho, with 100 mph straight-line winds that mauled Perry and much of the American Midwest, also brought out much charity and goodwill between neighbor and neighbor in its aftermath, including from Cheyenne Hoffman of Perry.
“To all Perry residents and families without power,” Hoffman wrote Tuesday on the Perry Community Page on Facebook. “Tomorrow we will be handing out some goodie bags with snacks, juice, ice, etc. at 2501 McKinley St Perry IA.”
Hoffman said the goodie bags “should be ready for people to start coming around lunch time. I will post on here when I have everything set up. Again if anyone has anything they would like to donate please let me know. Had a generous lady donated a huge box of Hershey candy bars!”
Private charity supplements the public assistance at the state and federal level, which has also been mobilized following Monday’s storms.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation Tuesday, allowing state resources to be used to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather in Boone, Clinton, Dallas, Johnson, Marshall and Story counties. The proclamation also activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for Dallas, Johnson, Marshall and Story counties.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $43,440 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses.
Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.
The Disaster Case Management program addresses serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain a service or resource.
There are no income eligibility requirements for the Disaster Case Management program, which closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.
Rep. Cindy Axne, Iowa’s Congressperson from the third Congressional district, said, “I am prepared to fight for whatever federal resources are necessary to allow these efforts to continue quickly and efficiently, all while following appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols.”
Axne said she is “particularly concerned at reports that 10 million crop acres in Iowa were affected by this storm, not to mention the damage caused to agricultural infrastructure, local businesses, and the hundreds of thousands of Iowans who are still without power. Over the coming weeks, I will be working with agency partners to ensure resources are made available for those in need.”
