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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In an effort to ensure areas recently impacted by severe weather are able to receive assistance as quickly as possible, Representatives Bruce Braley (IA-01), Tom Latham (IA-04), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Steve King (IA-05), and David Loebsack (IA-02) sent a letter to President Obama today, asking him to accelerate the process of the Preliminary Damage Assessment for Iowa. The Preliminary Damage Assessment is used to determine the magnitude and impact of an event's damage and is needed for the allocation of federal assistance. 

“Our communities have been hit hard by the recent severe weather systems and most recently heavy flooding,” Braley said. “We are therefore determined to get the funds needed to rebuild our homes and businesses promptly. This is an issue that affects counties across the state and I hope President Obama will move quickly and efficiently to ensure Iowans will not have to wait any longer than necessary to move forward with these recovery efforts.” 

“Iowa has been ravaged by severe weather in recent months, and there is a legitimate need for federal assistance in communities across the state,” Latham said. “I stand ready to work with local, state and federal officials to make sure Iowans are able rebound from the devastation as quickly as possible.  With a coordinated and swift disaster response, I have no doubt that Iowans will rebuild their homes and communities stronger than ever.”   

“The past several years have been particularly difficult for many Iowans regardless if they live in town or on a farm,” Boswell said. “I am committed to working with my colleagues to speed up the process for a presidential disaster declaration and to get families, farmers, and small business owners the assistance they need to rebuild their homes and communities. Iowans pay taxes so that when disaster strikes they know that the government will be there in the recovery process. Let us not delay their rebuilding because of bureaucracy and red tape.” 

“Iowans trying to recover from the damage caused by storms and rising waters do not need to be subjected to a federally caused flood of red tape as well,” King said. “That is why I am working with my colleagues to request that the President speed up the damage assessment process. When recovering from a disaster caused by weather, time is of the essence. The administration should  respect the severity of the recovery challenges that Iowans face by taking steps to ensure that federal recovery assistance is available as quickly as possible.”

“Iowa has severely suffered from recent and past natural disasters and I sincerely urge the President to speed up the process,” Loebsack said. “As Iowans know all too well, the disaster relief network is riddled with red tape and aid often takes too long to reach communities. We must work together to help Iowa families, businesses, and communities as we move forward to rebuild our state.”

Yesterday, Governor Chet Culver requested a Preliminary Damage Assessment from FEMA for the counties affected by this weekend’s flooding.  Last week, the Iowa Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Obama, asking him to approve Culver’s disaster declaration request for counties impacted by severe weather in Iowa. 

Click here to read the letter to President Barack Obama.