OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Governor Kim Reynolds
Lt. Governor Adam Gregg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 26, 2018
CONTACT: Brenna Smith, Press Secretary, (515) 281-5211
Jessica Kinser, Marshalltown City Administrator, (641) 754-5799
Gov. Reynolds announces new assistance for Marshalltown tornado victims
(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds and Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer announced a new program Friday to provide temporary minor emergency home repairs to eligible Marshalltown residents impacted by the July tornado.
Voluntary Agencies Leading and Organizing Repairs (VALOR) leverages federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create a partnership with local volunteer agencies, making it possible for volunteers to make temporary minor emergency repairs to eligible properties. The goal of the program is to help people return to, or remain in, their home by completing repairs that will make the residence safe, secure, accessible and habitable.
“Iowa is the first state in the continental United States to offer the VALOR Program as part of its disaster recovery efforts,” Gov. Reynolds said. “This program is an example of innovative thinking meeting the Iowa ideal of neighbor helping neighbor.”
VALOR utilizes selected volunteer organizations to perform the approved work, including providing oversight of volunteer labor, identifying volunteers to perform repair work, conducting property assessments, ordering needed materials and making repairs.
“Volunteers have been a tremendous resource in helping our city and our citizens recover after the tornado,” Mayor Greer said. “Through the VALOR Program, we will be able to combine our volunteer assets with the needed materials to make those temporary emergency repairs that are crucial to the safety of our citizens.”
To be eligible for temporary minor emergency repairs under the VALOR program, properties must be owner occupied or under contract for purchase and have sustained damage as the result of the July 19, 2018, tornado. The city believes approximately 400 homes may be eligible to receive assistance under the program. Repairs eligible under VALOR include weatherproofing, securing windows and doors, repairing damaged portions of roofs, removing mold and mildew and providing safe access to a home with stairs or a ramp. Marshalltown will administer the grant funding and purchase the necessary supplies, materials and equipment, limited to $5,000 per residential structure.
Marshalltown residents may find out more information and apply for repair assistance by calling the Housing and Community Development Department at (641) 754-6583.
The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is working with the City of Marshalltown to implement the program. Seventy-five percent of the funding for the VALOR Program is provided through FEMA. Iowa and Marshalltown will be responsible for providing the remaining 25 percent of the funding. The program was first authorized in Puerto Rico to assist residents impacted by Hurricane Maria.