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Story County board hears disaster proclamation after flash flooding; assistance programs opened for affected homeowners
Summary
Emergency Management Coordinator Melissa Spencer told the Story County Board of Supervisors that a governor-issued disaster proclamation covers July 2–4 flash flooding, more than 300 homeowners reported damage, and two state programs — one without income limits and one that can provide up to $7,000 to eligible households — are available.
At its July 7 meeting, the Story County Board of Supervisors heard from Emergency Management Coordinator Melissa Spencer that the governor issued a disaster proclamation for the county following severe storms and flash flooding July 2–4, 2026. Spencer reported that more than 300 individual homeowners have reported damage to date and urged residents with damage to apply for assistance.
Spencer said Iowa Homeland Security has opened two programs for Story County: the Disaster Case Advocacy Program, which is open to anyone and has no income restrictions and helps residents develop recovery plans and identify resources; and the Iowa Individual Assistance Program, which is income-restricted to households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and can provide qualifying households up to $7,000. She emphasized that reporting damage is not the same as applying and encouraged residents to submit applications; information and application links are available on the county website and will appear in the Ames Tribune.
Why it matters: a governor-issued disaster proclamation can affect eligibility for additional state and federal recovery resources, and the number of reported damaged homes helps state officials assess whether further disaster relief is warranted. The county’s outreach and application instructions are intended to speed individual recovery planning and support eligibility determinations.
Next steps: residents with property damage should follow the application instructions on the Story County website and watch local notices in the Ames Tribune for additional guidance; county staff will continue outreach and coordination with state disaster programs.
