Iowa Department of Human Services

Disaster Assistance Programs

For 24/7 disaster crisis counseling, call Iowa Concern Hotline at 800-447-1985.
 
For the Iowa individual disaster assistance grant program information call toll-free 866-434-4692.
 

Iowa Individual Disaster Assistance Grant Program

The Iowa Individual Disaster Assistance Grant Program is launched with a governor's declaration and at the request of local officials. This program offers grants to families with incomes at or below twice the federal poverty index. The maximum grant is $5,000.
  • Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Chickasaw, Delaware, Floyd, Franklin, Linn and Wright counties have a deadline of November 7, 2016
  • Johnson County has a deadline of September 28, 2016
  • Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek counties have a deadline of October 10, 2016
  • Bremer and Chickasaw counties have a deadline of October 14, 2016
  • Kossuth county has a deadline of October 24, 2016

The grant application may be download by clicking on Iowa Disaster Assistance Application.  Applications can be turned in to a local Community Action Association, go to www.iowacommunityaction.org to find your local association.

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 to www.iowadbhrt.org.  
 
 
Additional information and resources on Mental Health assistance following disasters visit Mental Health Disaster page.