SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — So far, a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Iowa flooding includes five counties: Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux. Additional counties are expected to be added in the coming weeks, as officials in Woodbury and Cherokee counties are working to make sure they don’t get left out.
Cherokee County was one of the first areas to be inundated by flood water. Conditions are drying up there now but emergency managers want to make sure residents are in line for federal assistance before financial aid dries up.
A couple dozen people were on hand on Tuesday as the Cherokee County emergency coordinator updated the application process for federal aid. Justin Pritts says he’s optimistic and that it’s going to take time.
“I will not sugarcoat it, I will not lie to you, I do not know where we’re at in the process; all that I can promise you is we have done everything,” Cherokee County Emergency Management Coordinator Justin Pritts said. “There is no guarantee right now that FEMA is coming, ok. Do I believe it’s coming? Yes, I do. I absolutely do, it’s in FEMA’s hands. I believe them one hundred and ten percent, but it is sitting with the federal government right now.”
Cherokee residents are asked to continue conserving water and to limit wastewater use until further notice to help keep the wastewater treatment plant operational.