Dickinson County is among 14 counties included in a disaster proclamation issued by Governor Reynolds today.DCEM GraphicGov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation Friday for Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, O'Brien, Palo Alto, Sioux, Winnebago, Worth and Wright counties in response to storms and flooding that took place beginning Sept. 19, 2018.

The governor's proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program.

Updated Sept. 21, 11:33am

As of Friday morning, all roads were reported to be reopened in Dickinson County.

Update: 

Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alerting Systems Postponed Until October 3, 2018

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), postponed the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) until Oct. 3 due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence. 

The WEA portion of the test commences at 1:18 p.m. CDT, and the EAS portion follows at 1:20 p.m. CDT. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.

Four counties, including Dickinson, were included in the original request for Individual Assistance by Governor Reynolds. That request was initially denied by FEMA and is now being appealed by the Governor.DCEM GraphicGov. Kim Reynolds submitted an appeal letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today asking it to reconsider its denial of her request for federal assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses that were affected by flooding and severe weather from June 6 to July 2, 2018.

“We have provided FEMA with additional information that more clearly outlines the tremendous impact this disaster has had on our citizens,” Gov. Reynolds said. “I am asking that they grant my request to make this assistance available to Iowans who are in need.”

Dickinson County Emergency Management has received a $1,000 grant from the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), the members property and casualty coverage provider.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has received notification that her request has been denied for federal assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses in four counties impacted by flooding and severe weather from June 6 - July 2, 2018.

"We are extremely disappointed with FEMA's decision," Gov. Reynolds said. "People in Iowa are still hurting and in need of help several weeks after the flooding. We will be appealing this decision."

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in Iowa following President Trump’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred June 6 - July 2, 2018, announced Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in  Adair, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Dallas, Delaware, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Sioux, Story, Warren, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek and Wright counties.