Public Assistance
Federal Public Assistance Program
Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA awards grants to assist state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations with the response to and recovery from disasters. The program provides funding for debris removal, implementation of emergency protective measures and permanent restoration of infrastructure. The program also encourages protection from future damage by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process. The state works with FEMA to manage the program and administer the funding.*
For all disasters declared on or after Oct. 1, 2021, the State must have sustained the minimum amount of damage statewide (according to FEMA regulations) of $1.63 per capita, or $5,200,301.47, to qualify for Public Assistance funding.
Once this statewide minimum has been met, then the qualifying amount of damage per capita in each county must reach at least $4.10.
Public Assistance Program Contacts
Katie Waters
State Public Assistance Program Supervisor
(515) 249-2242
Rick Biondi
Deputy State Public Assistance Officer
(515) 979-3519
How to Submit a request for public assistance within emGrants pro
This is a tutorial to provide instructions as to how to submit a Request for Public Assistance within Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s grants management system, EMGrants Pro.
Public Assistance information for Iowa Disasters
In the tabs below, you will find public assistance information for disasters 4557, 4483, 4421, 4386, and 4392.
Public Assistance per capita minimum by county
These amounts are effective October 1, 2021.
| Annual Estimates of the Population for Counties of Iowa | ||
| Geographic Area | August 12, 2020 | Cost necessary to meet threshold |
| Census | ||
| Iowa* | 3,190,369 | $5,200,301.47 |
| County | FY 2021 | |
| Adair County | 7,496 | $30,733.60 |
| Adams County | 3,704 | $15,186.40 |
| Allamakee County | 14,061 | $57,650.10 |
| Appanoose County | 12,317 | $50,499.70 |
| Audubon County | 5,674 | $23,263.40 |
| Benton County | 25,575 | $104,857.50 |
| Black Hawk County | 131,144 | $537,690.40 |
| Boone County | 26,715 | $109,531.50 |
| Bremer County | 24,988 | $102,450.80 |
| Buchanan County | 20,565 | $84,316.50 |
| Buena Vista County | 20,823 | $85,374.30 |
| Butler County | 14,334 | $58,769.40 |
| Calhoun County | 9,927 | $40,700.70 |
| Carroll County | 20,760 | $85,116.00 |
| Cass County | 13,127 | $53,820.70 |
| Cedar County | 18,505 | $75,870.50 |
| Cerro Gordo County | 43,127 | $176,820.70 |
| Cherokee County | 11,658 | $47,797.80 |
| Chickasaw County | 12,012 | $49,249.20 |
| Clarke County | 9,748 | $39,966.80 |
| Clay County | 16,384 | $67,174.40 |
| Clayton County | 17,043 | $69,876.30 |
| Clinton County | 46,460 | $190,486.00 |
| Crawford County | 16,525 | $67,752.50 |
| Dallas County | 99,678 | $408,679.80 |
| Davis County | 9,110 | $37,351.00 |
| Decatur County | 7,645 | $31,344.50 |
| Delaware County | 17,488 | $71,700.80 |
| Des Moines County | 38,910 | $159,531.00 |
| Dickinson County | 17,703 | $72,582.30 |
| Dubuque County | 99,266 | $406,990.60 |
| Emmet County | 9,388 | $38,490.80 |
| Fayette County | 19,509 | $79,986.90 |
| Floyd County | 15,627 | $64,070.70 |
| Franklin County | 10,019 | $41,077.90 |
| Fremont County | 6,605 | $27,080.50 |
| Greene County | 8,771 | $35,961.10 |
| Grundy County | 12,329 | $50,548.90 |
| Guthrie County | 10,623 | $43,554.30 |
| Hamilton County | 15,039 | $61,659.90 |
| Hancock County | 10,795 | $44,259.50 |
| Hardin County | 16,878 | $69,199.80 |
| Harrison County | 14,582 | $59,786.20 |
| Henry County | 20,482 | $83,976.20 |
| Howard County | 9,469 | $38,822.90 |
| Humboldt County | 9,597 | $39,347.70 |
| Ida County | 7,005 | $28,720.50 |
| Iowa County | 16,662 | $68,314.20 |
| Jackson County | 19,485 | $79,888.50 |
| Jasper County | 37,813 | $155,033.30 |
| Jefferson County | 15,663 | $64,218.30 |
| Johnson County | 152,854 | $626,701.40 |
| Jones County | 20,646 | $84,648.60 |
| Keokuk County | 10,033 | $41,135.30 |
| Kossuth County | 14,828 | $60,794.80 |
| Lee County | 33,555 | $137,575.50 |
| Linn County | 230,299 | $944,225.90 |
| Louisa County | 10,837 | $44,431.70 |
| Lucas County | 8,634 | $35,399.40 |
| Lyon County | 11,934 | $48,929.40 |
| Madison County | 16,548 | $67,846.80 |
| Mahaska County | 22,190 | $90,979.00 |
| Marion County | 33,414 | $136,997.40 |
| Marshall County | 40,105 | $164,430.50 |
| Mills County | 14,484 | $59,384.40 |
| Mitchell County | 10,565 | $43,316.50 |
| Monona County | 8,751 | $35,879.10 |
| Monroe County | 7,577 | $31,065.70 |
| Montgomery County | 10,330 | $42,353.00 |
| Muscatine County | 43,235 | $177,263.50 |
| O’Brien County | 14,182 | $58,146.20 |
| Osceola County | 6,192 | $25,387.20 |
| Page County | 15,211 | $62,365.10 |
| Palo Alto County | 8,996 | $36,883.60 |
| Plymouth County | 25,698 | $105,361.80 |
| Pocahontas County | 7,078 | $29,019.80 |
| Polk County | 492,401 | $2,018,844.10 |
| Pottawattamie County | 93,667 | $384,034.70 |
| Poweshiek County | 18,662 | $76,514.20 |
| Ringgold County | 4,663 | $19,118.30 |
| Sac County | 9,814 | $40,237.40 |
| Scott County | 174,669 | $716,142.90 |
| Shelby County | 11,746 | $48,158.60 |
| Sioux County | 35,872 | $147,075.20 |
| Story County | 98,537 | $404,001.70 |
| Tama County | 17,135 | $70,253.50 |
| Taylor County | 5,896 | $24,173.60 |
| Union County | 12,138 | $49,765.80 |
| Van Buren County | 7,203 | $29,532.30 |
| Wapello County | 35,437 | $145,291.70 |
| Warren County | 52,403 | $214,852.30 |
| Washington County | 22,565 | $92,516.50 |
| Wayne County | 6,497 | $26,637.70 |
| Webster County | 36,999 | $151,695.90 |
| Winnebago County | 10,679 | $43,783.90 |
| Winneshiek County | 20,070 | $82,287.00 |
| Woodbury County | 105,941 | $434,358.10 |
| Worth County | 7,443 | $30,516.30 |
| Wright County | 12,943 | $53,066.30 |
Public Assistance Info for Disaster 4557 (Aug. 10, 2020, and continuing)
Public Assistance Details for Disaster 4557 (Derecho Storm)
Incident period: Aug. 10, 2020, and continuing
The 16 counties eligible to apply for Public Assistance funding under this declaration are Benton, Boone, Cedar, Clinton, Dallas, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story and Tama.
Applicant Briefing Schedule- Sept. 14, 2020 (PDF format)
Applicant Briefing Schedule- Aug. 21, 2020 (PDF format)
VIDEO
Public Assistance Applicant Briefing Overview(YouTube)
FEMA Public Assistance Debris Guidance (YouTube)
Public Assistance Info for Disaster 4483 (Jan. 20, 2020, and continuing)
Public Assistance Details for Disaster 4483 (COVID-19 Pandemic)
Incident period: Jan. 20, 2020, and continuing
COVID-19 Nationwide Emergency Declaration
Applicant Briefing Schedule (PDF format)
VIDEO and RELATED FILES
COVID-19 Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation-September 23, 2021 (YouTube)
- COVID-19 Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation-September 23, 2021 (PowerPoint slides)
COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Assistance Policy Updates and Implementation (YouTube)
- Public Assistance Policy Updates and Implementation Webinar Slide Deck (PDF format)
COVID-19/FEMA New Interim Policy (YouTube)
Public Assistance Info for Disaster 4421 (March 12, 2019, through June 15, 2019)
Public Assistance Details for Disaster 4421
Incident period: March 12, 2019, through June 15, 2019
Eligible counties: 80
Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Clayton, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Keokuk, Kossuth, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marshall, Mills, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, Muscatine, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Scott, Sioux, Tama, Union, Wapello,Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, Worth, and Wright.
Declared: March 23, 2019
Note: This map also shows counties designated for the federal Individual Assistance Program in addition to the Public Assistance Program.
This disaster declaration initiates the availability of federal funding to assist the designated counties in recovery from major damage and debris caused by the severe storms and flooding that occurred during the incident period identified above.
Public Assistance Info for Disaster 4386 (June 6-July 2, 2018)
Public Assistance Details for Disaster 4386
Incident period: June 6-July 2, 2018
Eligible counties: 31
Adair, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Dallas, Delaware, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Sioux, Story, Warren, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, and Wright
Declared: Aug. 20, 2018 (Woodbury County added Oct. 10, 2018)
Documents from FEMA
This disaster declaration initiates the availability of federal funding to assist the designated counties in recovery from major damage and debris caused by the severe storms and flooding that occurred during the incident period identified above.
Public Assistance Info for Disaster 4392 (July 19, 2018)
Public Assistance Details for Disaster 4392
Incident period: July 19, 2018
Eligible counties: 4
Lee, Marion, Marshall, and Van Buren counties
Declared: Sept. 12, 2018
Documents from FEMA
This disaster declaration initiates the availability of federal funding to assist the designated counties in recovery from major damage and debris caused by the severe storms and flooding that occurred during the incident period identified above.
Public Assistance Program Contacts
If you have a Public Assistance project, please contact one of the following HSEMD employees for assistance.
Jerald Ballanger, 515-313-3242
Rick Biondi, 515-979-3519
Graham Giles, 515-971-4664
Jim Grandquist, 515-971-5579
Dana Greenwood, 515-669-1722
Marina Heintz, 515-689-4896
Chris Spencer, 515-979-3298
Scott Stanley, 515-971-0574
Michelle Terry, 515-725-9318
Zach Webster, 515-313-5414
Historic Preservation
In the course of executing your disaster recovery grant, you may encounter previously unknown cultural/historic artifacts. The Office of the State Archaeologist should be contacted if any archaeological deposits (artifacts) are exposed so that they can be investigated and the extent of the site determined.
Additionally, HSEMD and the State Historic Preservation Office must be informed to take proper action. In accordance with the Code of Iowa 263B, if human remains are unintentionally exposed, you must cease work immediately, secure the area, and contact local law enforcement and/or the county medical examiner. If the remains are determined to be ancient (greater than 150 years old), the Office of the State Archaeologist’s Bioarchaeology Program must also be notified.
Office of the State Archaeologist, (319) 384-0732
Bioarchaeology Program, Office of the State Archaeologist, (319) 384-0740
Recovery Division, Iowa Dept. of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, (515) 725-3231
Daniel Higginbottom, State Historic Preservation Office, (515) 281-8744
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