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Contact Information

Doug Ongie
City Hall, Level 2
Planning Department
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
319.356.5479    FAX: 319.356.5217
doug-ongie@iowa-city.org

Buy-out Eligible Applicants: Click here for information.

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Notices

(posted 10-2-09) REBUILD IOWA OFFICE INFORMATION

Public asked to share opinions on floodplain management.  Learn more at www.rio.iowa.gov/news/releases/2009/100109_surveys.html

The Iowa Dept. of Human Services has launched the "Ticket to Hope" program offering no-cost professional mental health counseling to cope with lingering stress for survivors of the 2008 floods.  The program is aimed at people who are uninsured, whose insurance does not cover mental health benefits, or who have exhausted the mental health service provisions of their insurance. More information available at www.tickettohope.org.

(posted 9-22-09) REBUILD IOWA OFFICE PROVIDES ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS DISCUSSED DURING FLOOD FORUMS. Find Disaster Recovery Information, Agency Links and Programs Disaster-Affected Iowans May Still be Eligible For on RIO Web site (posted 5-08-09) On Thursday May 7th Congressman Loebsack announced that Iowa City had been awarded $8.6 million in FEMA funds from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. These funds will be combined with state and local funds allocated through the Community Development Block Grant Program to help Iowa City acquire 39 homes and one vacant lot affected by last year’s flood. This acquisition will protect the community from future damages while reducing emergency response and evacuation costs. The properties, which include 39 homes and one vacant lot, are located on Taft Speedway, Park Road, Normandy Drive, and Eastmoor Drive in the Parkview Terrace neighborhood. Iowa City hopes to have most acquisitions completed by spring 2010.

(DES MOINES) – More than 200 Iowans affected by the destructive floods of 2008 took the opportunity to visit with agency and program representatives during four flood forum events that reached out to eight different communities and the surrounding areas in August and September. Even though the events are over, information about the disaster-recovery programs discussed during the forums is accessible to Iowans by visiting the Rebuild Iowa Office Web site at: http://www.rio.iowa.gov/flood_forum.html. Site visitors will find links to agencies and programs which assist eligible disaster-affected Iowans still recovering from the 2008 floods and tornadoes.

 

Information provided at the forums, with contacts now available on the RIO Web site, focused on available assistance to flood-affected residents, flood insurance basics and updates on recovery efforts. Speakers included representatives from the Rebuild Iowa Office, Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Workforce Development and the National Flood Insurance Program, among others.

 (posted 5-2909) Web Site Focuses on Year-Later Needs for Disaster Survivors.  A new website is available to help Iowans find information about how to get help to deal with lingering stress in the wake of natural disasters a year ago. The site, www.projectrecoveryiowa.org, features information about Project Recovery Iowa’s services, including free confidential crisis counseling.

The information is important because the anniversary of a disaster can reawaken a wide range of feelings and reactions among survivors, according to Bill Gardam, administrator of the Mental Health and Disability Services division of the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Project Recovery Iowa, administered by the DHS, teaches coping skills, assesses immediate needs, and guides people to resources for ongoing support. Free confidential counseling sessions can take place in homes or other settings rather than in offices or clinics. If needed, mental health professionals will also provide referrals to other long-term recovery resources.

The Iowa Concern Hotline, 1-800-447-1985, is the entry point for Project Recovery Iowa services. Confidential counseling is available at all hours.

(posted 4-27-09) Gov. Culver signs legislation to reduce from 10 years to 5 years the amount of time state-funded Jumpstart Iowa recipients must stay in their homes before their entire Jumpstart loan is forgiven. learn more

(posted 4-10-09) Additional Financial Assistance available for disaster-impacted small businesses (from Iowa RIO) click here

(posted 3-20-09) City staff will be discussing with the City Council at its work session on March 23, 2009, the specifics of five funding programs for flood recovery.  learn more about Funding Proposals

(posted 3-18-09) Governor announces 16 Iowa counties ready to accept applications for Disaster-Related Unmet Needs Grants - New Program Provided Impacted Iowans additional disaster assistance.

Each household can get up to $2,500. The grants can be used for personal property, home repair, food assistance, mental health assistance, child care and temporary housing related to the disasters. Applicants have until June 30, 2010 to apply. The grants are available to families with household incomes up to three times the federal poverty level. (Example:  the income eligibility limit for a family of two would be approximately $42,000).

Applicants should apply to the Long-Term Recovery Committee that covers the county where they lived when the disaster ouccurred.  The Local Long-Term Recovery Committee is the Crisis Center, 319-351-2726. Go to http://www.rio.iowa.gov/news/releases/2009/031309_disaster_grant.html for more information.

(posted 02-18-09) "Iowa City River Corridor - Flood Protection Options for Parkview Terrace and Idyllwild Neighborhoods" Prepared by Stanley Consultants. 

This report is an analysis of the potential flood protection options for the Parkview Terrace and Idyllwild residential neighborhoods. The report identifies various flood protection techniques and explores their relative strengths, weaknesses, and costs.

View report.  (allow time to download - large file)

(posted 02-06-09) On February 2, 2009, Gov. Culver signed House File 64, which appropriated $56 million for flood recovery efforts. For Iowa City, there will be an additional $823,000 available for housing repair and rehabilitation, interim mortgage assistance, or down payment assistance. First priority goes to homeowners who have not yet received assistance and who have incomes of less than 150% of local median incomes. Total amounts to be given to each homeowner cannot exceed $24,999.

The second part of the bill allows for individual assistance grants of up to $2500 for individuals whose income is below 300% of the federal poverty level. The grants are being distributed by local Long Term Disaster Recovery Committees.

There is no need for individuals to reapply for these additional funds. Decisions will be based on applications already on file.

The third part of the bill creates community assistance grants that communities can use for flood related public infrastructure projects, buy-outs in areas not covered by HMGP funds, assistance to non-profits affected by the flood, housing repair and replacement funds, small business assistance, or assistance for increased costs associated with the revaluation and assessment of property due to the flood. The exact dollar amount for Iowa City's community disaster grants will be known shortly. Disaster grant applications to the state will be due April 1st.

 
(posted 1/15/09) On January 14, 2009 Governor Culver announced a new Disaster Relief Program that will assist owners of rental properties that were damaged by the flood of 2008. Governor's press release: www.rio.iowa.gov/news/releases/2009/011409_rental_rehab.html

learn more & application forms  Note:  Print and return completed applications to: City of Iowa City, Attn: Nasseem Hesler, City Hall, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA  52240.

Change address or other contact information? Be sure to let us know at recovery@iowa-city.org so we can keep your information up to date.

Iowa Recovery Times Newsletters (from Rebuild Iowa Office):

May 2009

April 2009

March 2009

Past Activities

Supplemental CDBG Flood Recovery Funding Process Begins (posted 10/17/08; updated 11/13/08)
Applications are available to apply for Supplemental CDBG Flood Recovery Funding. If you have already applied for “Jumpstart” funding you do not need to submit another application.

Applications will be accepted until the Supplemental CDBG funds are depleted. Applications are available at City Hall, Planning Department, 401 E. Washington St, Iowa City. Applications are also available on this webpage  - reference the "Jumpstart/CDBG Flood Recovery" box below. Questions regarding the application process or other flood recovery issues can be directed to Nasseem Hesler, Flood Recovery (319) 356-5479 or recovery@iowa-city.org.

To be eligible for this funding, flood impacted residents must have registered for FEMA assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go to www.fema.gov to register. The FEMA registration deadline was October 31, 2008.

CDBG Flood recovery funds and levels of assistance are based on federal guidelines. The applicant must:
1. Be the owner of record and have occupied the home as their primary residence during the flood of 2008;
2. Must be at or under 100% of the median income for the City of Iowa City: Single = $50,800; 2 person household = $58,000; 3 person household = $65,300; 4 person household = $72,600; 5 person household = $78,400; 6 person household = $84,200; 7 person household = $90,000; 8 person household = $95,800.

(learn more)

At its October 6, 2008, work session, the City Council discussed how to rank the applicants for Jumpstart and CDBG assistance. City Council directed staff to use the system based on weighting criteria that has been employed for many years in making decisions about who will receive CDBG assistance for rehabilitation and home repair. The City's weighting criteria are: elderly, disabled, large family, medium family, and single parent household.

Memo from City Attorney re: Jumpstart/CDBG Weighting Criteria (11-5-08)

Jumpstart Applicant List (weighted rankings) (rev. 12-6-08)

Assistance

(posted 9/29/08): Mortgage Counseling Service Available.  For residents having difficulty paying their mortgages on flood damaged properties, the State of Iowa is encouraging homeowners to call the Iowa Mortgage Help (IMH) Hotline at 877-622-4866. An IMH counselor will gather basic data and will refer callers’ cases to one of 12 Iowa counseling agencies. The certified counselors will gather more in-depth financial information and may contact the loan servicer to negotiate a payment schedule depending on each homeowner’s situation.  learn more

E-Subscribe to Flood Recovery  Updates (click here)

Archived Updates

FEMA Documents

Buyout Information (posted 9/2/08) 

 

City Water Service/Quality Information: (319) 356-5166 (24-hours).
Questions about City Sewer Service: (319) 356-5170 (regular business hours M-F) OR (319) 356-5177 (nights/weekends)
City of Iowa City Building Inspection  (319) 356-5120
Flood Assessment Information
This is a link to view specific property information with regard to the flood event.  The information will be updated as inspections occur and additional assessments are made. (Source: City of Iowa City Housing & Building Inspection Dept.

MidAmerican Energy: (888) 427-5632 [answered 24/7]

Resource Links:

 

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This page was last updated: 12/23/2009 3:23:17 PM