FEMA official joins Reynolds in Greenfield as Iowa seeks federal aid for tornado

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, left, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell speak on the Greenfield tornado and the move toward federal recovery assistance at a news conference May 23, 2024 at Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

GREENFIELD — A top Federal Emergency Management Agency official joined Gov. Kim Reynolds in Greenfield Thursday to discuss recovery efforts after this week’s tornado and warn about future severe weather events that could hit Iowa later this week.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was in Greenfield as part of the agency’s efforts to assess damage and determine a federal response to tornadoes that hit the community and other Iowa communities Tuesday. At a news conference Thursday, she said she was already in Iowa as part of a FEMA team working in Minden, a western Iowa town hit by a tornado April 26, and traveled over to Greenfield shortly after the most recent natural disaster.

She said being in Greenfield so soon after the tornado helps her understand the “actual impact” and destruction caused by the storm.

“As much as I’ve been watching the videos and seeing the pictures of the tornado damage, it just does not do it justice when you’re here on the ground and you can see the homes gone, or you can talk to a member who lost their home and they share their story of how they just barely escaped death, you know, where they decided to stay to keep safe during the storm,” Criswell said. “Those are the kinds of things that you just can’t get unless you’re here on the ground and talking to people and seeing the impacts firsthand. And so we are going to continue to work with the governor’s team to assess all of the damages that have happened, and make sure that whatever we can provide assistance for, that we’re able to do so.”

Reynolds submitted an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration earlier Thursday, requesting the activation of FEMA’s Public Assistance Program for Adair County, where the tornado destroyed part of the local hospital as well as public utilities. Reynolds is also seeking aid from the agency’s Individual Assistance Program and the Small Business Administration’s disaster loans for Adair as well as Polk, Story, and Montgomery counties. These programs will help provide grants and loans to residents and business owners that had property damage caused by the extreme weather.

While the full extent of the damage is still unknown, Reynolds said that so far reports show 153 homes in Adair County have been destroyed in the storm, in addition to eight in Montgomery, 26 in Polk and 15 in Story counties. The governor thanked Criswell and FEMA staff for helping the state work through the process for applying for federal aid for affected Iowans.

“We’ve had a lot of destruction and damage across the state,” Reynolds said. “And hopefully we’ll meet the criteria to qualify. They have policies and metrics in place, and we’re going to do everything we can to get that declaration. And I just again, appreciate FEMA’s response and helping us work through that paperwork.”

Criswell also offered “deepest condolences” on behalf of herself and President Joe Biden for “those people who lost friends, family members, neighbors, as a result of the tragic tornado.” Four Greenfield residents died in the tornado, the Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed Wednesday, in addition to at least 35 injuries resulting from the extreme weather.

The FEMA official also warned Iowans to prepare for incoming severe weather conditions that are expected this weekend.

“The one thing I also want to say is make sure you’re listening to your local officials, make sure you’re listening to the weather reports, make sure that you take the steps necessary to protect yourselves and your families as you see the next round of weather coming through,” Criswell said.

Donna Dubberke, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service in Des Moines, said at the news conference that there is “severe storm potential” in areas impacted by tornadoes earlier this week returning after midnight Friday. Dubberke said NWS will be working with emergency management services and local officials to ensure that communities are prepared for potential extreme weather events in the days ahead.

While the destruction caused by the tornado was extensive, Reynolds praised the ongoing recovery efforts and the support provided by Iowa law enforcement, emergency service providers and communities across the state in responding to the needs of Greenfield residents in recent days. She also noted that despite the recent tragedy, Greenfield is not only working hard to recover but to prepare for a return to normalcy.

“I guess they’ve got some things going on here — they’ve got a county fair that’s going to happen in about three weeks, and in addition to that, they’ve got to RAGBRAI that’s coming through,” Reynolds said. “So this is a community that’s in gear and just — it is so inspiring to… see their response to it, looking forward looking to the future, how strong they are in this complete devastation.”

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