Disaster Assistance

For 24/7 disastercrisis counseling, call Iowa Concern Hotline at 800-447-1985.

For the Iowa individual disaster assistance grant program information calltoll-free866-434-4692.

Iowa Individual Disaster Assistance Grant Program

IOWA GRANT PROGRAM SUMMARY. This program offers grants to families with incomes at or below twice the federal poverty index. Maximum grant $5,000. The program is launched with a governor's declaration and at the request of local officials.The Iowa program is automatically canceled when the president issues a disaster declaration for individual assistance for that county.Federal programs have far higher damage awards. For information call toll-free 866-434-4692.

There are three active grants.

On April 19, 2013, the governor declared a disaster inCedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott, and Washington counties due to heavy rains and flooding.

On April 23, 2013, the governor added three more counties. They are Lee, Muscatine, and Iowa.

On May 7, 2013, the governor added 15 more counties. They are Appanoose, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, and Wayne. 

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Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team

The Iowa Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team (DBHRT) is a trained team of volunteers who will respond to the mental health needs of Iowa residents following disasters and critical incidents. The team provides services for community providers based on local area needs and may be delivered at a disaster site in an affected community or statewide. Services may include:

  • Conduct behavioral health needs assessment following a disaster
  • Provide Psychological First Aid
  • Provide brief crisis counseling and intervention
  • Provide community outreach
  • Provide public information and education
  • Provide critical incident stress debriefing
  • Provide behavioral health consultation for providers, communities and individuals
  • Provide screening and referral for those affected by a disaster or critical event

Local authorities may request DBHRT assistance in order to meet the behavioral health needs of communities in crisis by contacting the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Duty Officer. The duty officer is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 515-725-3231. For more information go tohttp://www.iowadbhrt.org/.

Project Recovery Iowa

Project Recovery Iowa is a federally funded Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP). The goal is to assist individuals and communities in recovering from the challenging effects of natural and human-caused disasters through the provision of community-based outreach and psycho educational services.Project Recovery Iowa assists with the following services:

  • Individual Crisis Counseling
  • Basic Supportive or Educational Contact
  • Group Crisis Counseling
  • Public Education
  • Community Networking and Support
  • Assessment, Referral and Resource Linkage
  • Distribution of Educational Materials

For more information go to http://www.projectrecoveryiowa.com/or call 1-800-447-1985.

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