Nathan Reichert STATE REPRESENTATIVE Eightieth District Statehouse: (515) 281-3221 e-mail - nathan.reichert@legis.state.ia.us HOME ADDRESS 1155 Iowa Avenue Muscatine, IA 52761 Home: 563-263-3057

House of Representatives State of Iowa Eighty-Second General Assembly STATEHOUSE Des Moines, Iowa 50319

COMMITTEES Agriculture Appropriations Commerce Natural Resources APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals, Vice Chair

Winter Storm Relief Is On The Way:

The Disaster Aid Individual Assistance Grant Program has passed the house and senate floor this afternoon. This bill authorizes up to a million dollars for an individual assistance grant program, it also allows the Department of Human Services to administer the program under the same procedures they currently use when they administer a federally-declared individual assistance program. This is needed, because while Governor Culver has declared sixty counties (including Muscatine) in Iowa to be disaster areas, they have not as of yet been declared federal disaster areas by the President, which means that they cannot receive any federal assistance.

· If you or any one you know needs this assistance, please contact the Muscatine County Emergency Management Office, Civil Defense (Jeff Carter) 563-288-2526, or dial 211 for assistance. If you need information for other counties please go to: www.iowahomelandsecurity.org/asp/CoEM_FR/Coor_Homeland_short1807.pdf

· Iowans with an annual household income less than 130% of the Federal Poverty Guideline could be eligible for assistance. The money is for personal property, home repair, temporary housing assistance, and food related costs. Based on the current guidelines, the maximum per household grant is approximately $3,110. Eligible citizens must reside in counties that have received the Emergency Declaration from Governor Culver. To find out what other counties have received the emergency declaration, go to www.bereadyiowa.org.

· If you are a farmer or live stock producer and need help in locating a generator, please visit the Secretary of Agriculture’s web site at http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/ to receive help.

In addition, I would like to thank the line crews, especially the REC members, who have come from all over to help fix the power lines. They are working over sixteen hours a day to help restore power and I really appreciate all their hard work. Also, If I can be of service in anyway, don’t hesitate to contact me by e-mail or phone.

Thanks,

Nathan