Minimal Storm Impact Felt In Mills County

Last Wednesday’s powerful thunderstorm system that took down trees and knocked out electrical power to major portions of the Omaha metropolitan area for several days did minimal damage in Mills County.

Travis Hitchcock, Mills County Director of 911 Communications & Emergency Management, said his office has received only a handful of reports regarding damage in the county.

“From a damage perspective, outside of  the dead limbs falling or a couple power lines down, we may have had some folks that had some shingle damage,” Hitchcock said. “We don’t have widespread damage here.”

Hitchcock said Mills County was fortunate it didn’t get the hurricane-force winds that went through the Omaha metro area.

“That pocket of winds in excess of  85, 90, 95 mph could have shifted south and come right through Mills County,” he said. “We did get a little lucky there again.”

Mills County was among seven counties included in a disaster declaration announced Thursday by Iowa Gov. Reynolds’ office for severe storms that occurred last week.

Although initial assessments indicate Mills County experienced limited damage from last Wednesday’s storm, Hitchcock said being included in the declaration will speed up the process for assistance should the need arise down the road.

“If something kind of comes up after the fact, this program has the ability to help some folks offset some potential costs working through the community action,” he said.
Reynolds’ latest disaster declaration included Cass, Mills, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Wapello, Webster, and Woodbury Counties. It was issued in response to storms that occurred last week, beginning on July 29.

In announcing the declaration, the governor’s office noted in a press release that the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants up to $7,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/assistance. 

Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case advocates work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource.

There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, contact your local community action agency or visit iowacommunityaction.org.