Monday, June 23, 2008
Updated - Harkin Encourages Families Affected by Disaster to Seek Food Assistance
Disaster Food Assistance Program Operating in 24 Iowa Counties; Expanded and Now Operating in 36 Iowa Counties
Following action by the state of Iowa to establish a Disaster Food Assistance Program in counties hardest hit by flooding and weather, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today encouraged Iowans affected by the disaster to seek help in putting food on their tables while the flood waters recede. The Disaster Food Assistance Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a senior appropriator on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds USDA programs.
"Ensuring Iowans have their basic needs met during this time of devastation will get them through these tough times and give them the strength to pick up the pieces after this historic national disaster in our state,” said Harkin. “I encourage all Iowans who are eligible for this aid to take advantage of it. The application process is simple for this program that will help families reeling from this disaster make ends meet."
Federal officials have expanded the number of counties eligible for food benefits. They now include: Adams, Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Crawford, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Fremont, Hardin, Harrison, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Louisa, Mahaska, Marion, Mills, Monona, Muscatine, Page, Polk, Story, Tama, Union, Warren, and Winneshiek counties. Additional counties may be added to this list.
Applications are accepted for a limited time at FEMA disaster site offices in the following counties - Butler, Buchanan, Blackhawk, Adams, Cedar, Jones, Louisa, Muscatine, Polk, Winneshiek, Benton, Bremer, Cerro Gordo, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Hardin, Johnson, Linn, Marion, Page, Story, Tama, and Union.
Eligibility is based on household size, income, available cash assets, and the amount of damage caused by tornadoes and flooding. To qualify for relief, a household must have experienced at least one of the following as a result of the disaster:
- Loss or inaccessibility of income;
- Loss of food;
- Damage or destruction of a household’s home or household member’s self-employment business;
- Disaster related expenses that will not be reimbursed during the period of the disaster.
Department of Human Services staff will be offering the benefits at county Department of Human Services offices no later than Monday, and at most disaster recovery centers operated by the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
Residents of these counties who have moved away to be with relatives during the flood recovery may apply at a Department of Human Services county office in any part of the state.
Department of Human Services offices are located in every county. For contact information, view the map of DHS offices.
Department of Human Services employees are also being deployed to most FEMA emergency county offices, which are open for extended hours and on weekends. View an updated list of local FEMA offices.
For more information, contact the Iowa Department of Human Services at 877-937-3663.
