Iowa Gets Increase in Federal Disaster Assistance

President Bush is making additional federal disaster assistance available to Iowa to help with the deadly storms and flooding that have ravaged the state since late May.

Under an order signed on on June 30, the federal share of total eligible costs for emergency protective measures has been increased from 75 percent to 90 percent.

The increase is retroactive to a presidential disaster declaration issued on May 27 after the Parkersburg tornado.

Gov. Chet Culver has declared 84 of Iowa’s 99 counties as state disaster areas. A total of 77 counties have presidential disaster declarations for public assistance, and 54 counties have been approved for assistance for individuals and households.