Finkenauer Urges Presidential Disaster Declaration, Additional State Resources and Support from Iowa National Guard 

August 13, 2020
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) sent a letter to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Thursday urging her to seek a presidential disaster declaration as soon as possible in response to the derecho storm that caused widespread damage across central and eastern Iowa this week. Finkenauer also asked the governor to deploy more state resources to help distressed communities, including assistance through the Iowa National Guard.

"I write to urge that you take immediate action to request a presidential disaster declaration based on current information as well as deploy additional state resources in response to the derecho storm earlier this week,” Finkenauer wrote in the letter.

Iowa’s First Congressional District saw substantial property damage, widespread and prolonged power outages and extensive damage to crops and agricultural equipment. Recovery efforts and damage assessments are ongoing. According to recent news reports, more than 200,000 people still did not have power as of Thursday, and an estimated 10 million acres of crops have been flattened.

"…We need more manpower on the ground and that means putting the Iowa National Guard on state active duty. There are Iowans going without basic necessities while our local leaders struggle to inventory and submit requests for help that the Iowa National Guard is well-equipped to provide,” Finkenauer also wrote. “The Guard could be providing key sheltering, food, and safety check assistance to overwhelmed local officials. I again respectfully urge that a request be made immediately for federal assistance and that additional state resources are provided, including assistance through the Iowa National Guard."

In Iowa’s First District, numerous communities sustained significant damage with Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown among the hardest hit in the state, with upwards of 88 percent of residents currently without power and extensive property damage.