Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) applauds President Biden’s approval of Governor Reynolds request for a major disaster declaration following the severe storms on December 15th, 2021. The declaration enables federal funds to supplement state and local recovery efforts in 25 Iowa counties: Appanoose, Audubon, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cass, Cherokee, Davis, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt, Mills, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Van Buren, Webster, Worth, and Wright.
These counties were among the hardest hit by the rare severe storms that rolled through Iowa last December, which produced an intense line of rapidly-moving severe thunderstorms. These thunderstorms brought hurricane-force wind gusts and resulted in 43 confirmed tornadoes – a new single day tornado record for Iowa.
“I greatly appreciate and applaud President Biden’s quick approval of a federal disaster declaration to help supplement our state and local response to the unprecedented disaster that swept across Iowa last December,” said Rep. Axne. “When disaster strikes – whether its floods, tornados, derechos, or droughts – we need quick and effective action to help Iowans in need and rebuild our communities.”
Earlier this month, Rep. Axne and rest of the Iowa delegation wrote to President Biden in support of the Governor’s request and urging prompt action.
Read the full letter by clicking HERE.
Last year, Rep. Axne broke with her party to vote for expanding eligibility of disaster relief programs to include losses from the 2020 derecho.
Axne also previously advocated for reauthorizing and fully funding the WHIP+ program, a priority she articulated to House leadership in a bipartisan letter in April.
Rep. Axne has made supporting victims of natural disasters in Iowa a top priority in Congress.
Only two months into her first term, Iowa communities along the Missouri River experienced devastating flooding – destroying homes, businesses, and farmland.
Axne fought to secure $3 billion in support for victims of that flooding across the Midwest, and still tracks the funding that has returned to Iowa to aid in rebuilding efforts with her Iowa Flood Funding Tracker.
