The Sac and Fox Nation and FEMA Sign Disaster Assistance Agreement
Release Date: August 14, 2008
Release Number: 1763-159
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DES MOINES, Iowa -- Tribal Chairman Adrian Pushetonequa of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa and Bill Vogel, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Iowa, signed a disaster assistance agreement Thursday.
The formal signing ceremony, which recognizes the sovereignty of the Sac and Fox Tribe, took place at the tribal council chambers at the Sac and Fox Settlement in Tama. The tribe is also known as the Meskwaki Nation.
The agreement allows FEMA to provide Public Assistance to reimburse the tribal government for 75 percent of the eligible cost of damage suffered in the presidentially-declared major disaster for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred between May 25 and Aug. 13, 2008.
FEMA reimburses local governments, tribal governments and certain private non-profit organizations for 75 percent of their eligible disaster costs. Normally that money flows through the state, which administers and distributes it on behalf of FEMA. In the case of tribal governments with FEMA agreements, the federal share goes directly to the tribe and the state is not involved.
Individuals living at the settlement are also eligible for damage and loss reimbursements under the federal disaster declaration for Individual Assistance for Tama County.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Monday, 18-Aug-2008 09:02:54