Iowa House of Representatives

An update on the Iowa’s flood recovery efforts:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that eight additional Iowa counties — Clinton, Decatur, Dubuque, Greene, Keokuk, Pottawattamie, Van Buren, and Washington — were granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. More →

The Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission, which is a joint effort between the Legislature and executive branch to lead disaster recovery efforts, was announced in June and 15 members have been appointed to the commission.  The commission will meet soon and make its first report within 45 days. 

Commission members include:

Bill Bywater – Bill Bywater, of Iowa City, is the President of Economy Advertising/TruArt Color Graphics. More →

Ann Fairchild
3424 Dogwood Ave.
Fertile, IA 50343
641-797-2221

Ann Fairchild, of Fertile, is a production assembler at Fleetguard in Lake Mills. She is also a community leader; people often approach her to speak up on their behalf.

During her 15 years at Fleetguard, Ann has held many different positions: set-up operator, fork truck operator and assembly line floater. She has been a part of many teams, one of which saved the company $105,000 with a cost-saving idea. Ann has also worked for Winnebago Industries, RV Transport and Capt. K’s Ice Cream. More →

Susan Radke
63855 250th St.
Nevada, IA 50201
515-450-9548
voteradke@yahoo.com
www.voteradke.com

Nevada resident Susan Radke grew up on her family’s century farm in Forest City, Iowa, where she learned the values of faith in God, hard work, honesty and concern for others. The second of five children, Susan worked summers at Winnebago Industries to pay her college tuition and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1972 from the University of Iowa.

As an Iowa Department of Human Services social worker, Susan investigated child abuse cases and worked with foster children and families. She helped the elderly and their families as a medical social worker. Susan is currently employed at Iowa State University in the Naval Science Department (Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps). She is also vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 96. Susan will receive her master’s degree in industrial relations in May 2008. More →

James Van Bruggen
james.van.bruggen@gmail.com

James Van Bruggen grew up in George, Iowa. He spent his childhood there, attending George/Little Rock community schools from kindergarten until high school graduation. After his time in George, James attended Iowa State University. His time at ISU was influential: He was taught by some of the best educators in all of Iowa, found an outlet for his passion for public work and met his future wife, Kellee.

After graduation, James went to work in the Iowa House of Representatives. He later sat on the board of directors for Hemophilia of Iowa. As a child, James always admired the dedication and service of our soldiers. As he got older, he realized that he would be barred from service because he has hemophilia. More →

T.J. Templeton
326 Third Ave S.E.
Le Mars, IA 51031
712-541-2966
tj4staterep@gmail.com

T.J. Templeton is a resident of Le Mars who hails from Kansas City, Mo. Bringing his self-started, grassroots activist network to Plymouth County, he’s been able to tap into the needs of the community while being bolstered by the national support base of his organization.

T.J. founded and currently directs the Project for the Old American Century. The organization serves as an Internet-based news outlet, media archive and online community that focuses on corporate and government corruption. Before his work with the project, T.J. co-owned a small business and worked as a retail store manager and a factory laborer. This work history has given him the perspective and values of the common workingperson. He knows what it’s like to live from paycheck to paycheck while trying to afford health care and education. More →

Contact: State Emergency Operations Center, (515) 323.4221

www.flood2008.iowa.gov

Recovery Efforts Move Ahead; More Counties Receive Assistance from the Federal Government

As the Lt. Governor leads a tour to assess agricultural damage, with stops in Cedar Rapids and Burlington, primary focus is shifting on helping Iowans recover from the flood of 2008. The Lt. Governor has started a helicopter tour of agricultural flood damage. Joining the Lt. Governor will be Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and representatives from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, the US Department of Agriculture, the Iowa Cattleman’s Association, the Iowa Corngrowers Association, the Iowa Pork Producers, and the Iowa Soybean Association. (See details of the schedule at the end of this release

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Additional counties have been added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration, bringing the number of counties eligible for federal assistance to 65. Here is the latest list. More →

June 19, 2008

Contact: State Emergency Operations Center, (515) 323.4221

www.flood2008.iowa.gov

Latest Information from the Iowa State Emergency Operations Center

Governor to meet with the President, recovery efforts continue

Des Moines, IA – Governor Chet Culver will join President Bush as he travels throughout eastern Iowa today.

The State emergency operations center remains activated to help responders in southeast Iowa as river levels remain high and the Mississippi crests in Keokuk. Local responders, volunteers and the Iowa National Guard have increased the height of levees in Keokuk and now are ready to respond in the event of any levee seepage or failures. More →

The USDA announced today that federal assistance is available for Iowa farmers affected by flooding.  Farmers should contact their local FSA office.  Click here for the list of Iowa offices.  The full release is below:

USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY-DISASTER ASSISTANCE REMINDERS

DES MOINES, IOWA, June 2008 - With the extensive rainfall and flooding that Iowa’s farmers have endured, producers should be reminded they may be eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program or ECP. The ECP is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and covers damage to farmland, conservation structures, as well as damage to land in the floodplain. If producers/landlords have suffered terrace washouts, flood debris in the fields, sand deposits, fences washed out and other damage to eligible conservation structures, they should contact their local FSA Service Center and report the damage and start the application process. More →