Finkenauer Announces Derecho Recovery Town Hall During Visit to FEMA Center in Marshalltown, Calls for Extension of Individual Assistance Deadline

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster recovery center in Marshalltown on Monday, and on Tuesday sent a letter to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds urging that the State of Iowa seek an extension to the upcoming application deadline for individual disaster aid.

The recovery center was established by FEMA following the Aug. 10 derecho, which devastated a swath of eastern Iowa including Marshall, Tama, Benton and Linn counties. Residents may visit the drive-thru service until Saturday, when the center will close in Marshalltown and reopen in Tama County.

The deadline for Iowans to apply for Individual Assistance for damages caused by the derecho is October 19. During her visit on Monday, Finkenauer expressed concern to FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer DuWayne Tewes that the deadline may come too soon for storm-impacted Iowans, many of whom are still without access to reliable internet service or waiting on property damage assessments from their insurance companies.

In her letter to Reynolds, Finkenauer called on the state to formally seek an extension of the deadline.

"The storm left hundreds of thousands of Iowans with damaged homes and without power, internet, or communication capabilities for several days, even weeks," Finkenauer wrote in the letter. "While families impacted by the derecho have tried their best to navigate the process of filing claims with their insurance companies, homeowners and insurers alike are still overwhelmed with the amount of claims and appeals they have had to file."

"To make this process more complicated, due to public health concerns created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA conducted damage assessments virtually," she wrote. "This has stood to only further delay the process for households that did not have electric or phone/internet utility connections restored in the immediate aftermath of the derecho."

"A 60-day extension would help Iowans access the resources provided by FEMA's Individual Assistance program and help us move closer toward recovery as a state," Finkenauer wrote. "As outlined above, the situation in Iowa certainly fits the criteria for an extension and I hope you can work with FEMA to ensure aid reaches as many Iowans as possible."

"Given the magnitude of this disaster and the complexity of the recovery, Iowans need more time to apply for federal disaster aid," Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer said. "Iowans have been working hard to help their communities recover, but I worry that October 19 will arrive too soon for many folks who need and deserve federal assistance with the losses they experienced. I hope the state makes this necessary request, and that FEMA accepts it."

Monday's visit to Marshalltown also coincided with Finkenauer's announcement of a telephone town hall with FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer DuWayne Tewes for Iowans impacted by the derecho. The event is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. CT.

To sign-up for the town hall, visit finkenauer.house.gov/live
To call-in on the day of the event, dial 855-933-0826.
Iowans who experienced property damage from the derecho should document the damage with photos and videos, file claims with any relevant private insurance and begin necessary repair projects -- making sure to keep all work estimates and receipts.

To apply for FEMA individual assistance, please visit disasterassistance.gov.

For additional information on available assistance, visit our Derecho Recovery Resource Guide.

Finkenauer receives briefing on pandemic childcare, tours after-school program in Grinnell

Also on Monday, Finkenauer met with community leaders in Grinnell for a briefing on how the community has met the challenge of providing childcare during the pandemic.

She met with Chad Nath, the director of LINK Grinnell, to hear how the organization changed its procedures to accommodate community needs and safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were joined by Grinnell-Newburn Community Schools Superintendent Janet Stuzs, Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce Director Rachael Kinnick and other community members.

After the meeting, Nath led Finkenauer on a tour of LINK's after-school program at Davis Elementary School demonstrating its COVID-19 protocols.

Earlier this month, Finkenauer passed the bipartisan Ensuring Children and Child Care Workers Are Safe Act to help childcare providers through the pandemic by requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide states with educational materials and technical assistance on COVID-19 prevention, health and safety training and personal protective equipment.

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