Culver seeks presidential disaster declaration for Iowa counties

Posted on Jan 29, 2010 by admin.

Gov. Chet Culver is seeking a presidential disaster declaration for 28 Iowa counties, saying snow and ice storms have already caused at least $26 million in damages.

Culver sought the declaration at a Friday morning news conference, calling the storms “historically severe.”

Most of the counties are in western Iowa. They are: Fremont, Page, Mills, Pottawattamie, Cass, Adair, Madison, Guthrie, Audubon, Shelby, Harrison, Carroll, Crawford, Monona, Calhoun, Sac, Ida, Woodbury, Franklin, Pocahontas, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Palo Alto, Clay, Sioux, Emmet, Osceola and Lyon counties.

A presidential disaster declaration allows for federal assistance to state and local governments, and it makes individuals eligible for low-interest loans and other help.

– Associated Press