FEMA Helps Launch Long-Term Recovery 

Release Date: June 29, 2008
Release Number: 1763-055

» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

DES MOINES, Iowa -- As resilient Iowans have shown throughout the tribulations of recent natural disasters, they care not only for themselves but for their neighbors, too. Now, concern for the welfare of their communities is leading individuals and faith-based and voluntary groups to begin working together to create local Long-Term disaster Recovery Committees (LTRCs).

"There may be many people affected by the flooding and other recent severe weather events who will need help on a case-by-case basis with money, volunteer labor and donated goods," said Pat Hall, state coordinating officer for the Iowa disaster.

The mission of a LTRC is to help those neighbors for whom federal and state disaster assistance will not be enough. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) brings to every major disaster a team of people who specialize in helping form LTRCs. In Iowa, FEMA's Voluntary Agency Liaison group is working with the Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council to assess needs, forge connections with outside agencies, meet with many local groups and organizations, and provide guidance as needed.

"The real long-term recovery need is money to pay for home repairs and rebuilding," said FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison Brian Lewis.

To make it easy for anyone to help out with unmet recovery needs, Iowa has launched flood2008.iowa.gov as a central portal where people can find information about the disaster, donate money or their time, and make offers of goods or services.

"Recovering from natural disasters is the work of many hands, many agencies-government and private-and many dedicated individuals," said Bill Vogel, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for the Iowa recovery. "FEMA programs will be enormously helpful, but there will be long-term needs beyond their scope. Fortunately, FEMA's Voluntary Agency Liaison group and the Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council are working now to help the long-term recovery groups get off to a robust start."

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, 30-Jun-2008 11:33:44