Iowa Gov. Branstad Seeks Presidential Disaster Declaration

Gov. Terry Branstad has asked President Barack Obama for a major disaster declaration or Dubuque and Jackson counties after storms dumped more than a foot of rain late last month in Iowa.

Branstad on Wednesday requested a declaration for public assistance to help the counties recover from the storms on July 27-29. The governor also is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration to grant a disaster declaration for Dubuque County, which would make low-interest loans available to those affected by flash flooding.

Storms with torrential rain damaged public and private property, including homes, businesses and farmland.

Meanwhile, Branstad has added Clay and Dickinson counties to an earlier presidential disaster request for damage from storms that hit Iowa July 9-14. That request was initially for Benton, Marshall, Story and Tama counties.