-Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Britt Kudla Water fills the roadways in Lehigh during recent flooding. Many residents were evacuated as the flood waters rose. Webster and Hamilton counties are among 56 Iowa counties included in a disaster declaration.

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Saturday received notification that President Donald Trump has granted her request for an expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for 56 counties.

It includes Webster and Hamilton counties, which have been severely impacted by recent flooding. The declaration makes assistance available to homeowners, renters, businesses, public entities and select nonprofit organizations.

The declaration came quickly after communities worked to present their estimates to the governor’s office, Acting Hamilton County Emergency Management Coordinator Rick Young said.

“All Iowa counties reported estimated damages within 36 hours of request from the governor,” said Young. “Within the next 24 hours, Gov. Reynolds drafted and sent a request to the President. Within the next 24 hours, President Trump responded with the disaster proclamation.

“In Hamilton County there was a estimated total damage of $189,500,” he added. “Webster City estimated $123,000 and Hamilton County estimated $66,500.”

He said $89,500 of the total estimated damage was for public assistance to help cover losses to equipment and infrastructure.

Estimates are still going on in Webster County, Emergency Management Coordinator Dylan Hagen said.

“Right now we’re still in the process of looking over the damage,” he said. “In the next couple days we hope to have better numbers.”

“Generally speaking, it’s probably $200,000 to $300,000 for secondary roads, if not more, with the rock they had to put down, and grading them.”

Lehigh City Council member Doug Dellachiesa said the numbers are still coming in, as some streets are just finally getting out from under water, and residents take stock of what’s happened.

“A lot of them are trying to figure out if Th going to go back, or live somewhere else,” Dellachiesa said. “Basements full of mud.

“I’ve never seen a flood with so much mud.”

Webster County is focusing on Lehigh and the Kalo area, which is where the Des Moines River did the most damage, Hagen said.

Currently the disaster declaration is for public assistance — for cities and counties, he said. Federal assistance for individuals is not available yet, although things might change as more numbers come in.

“Today’s announcement from President Trump approving our emergency declaration will be instrumental to Iowa’s recovery,” Gov. Reynolds said. “We are incredibly grateful for the President’s consistent and timely action in the face of disaster. The road to recovery will be long, but it’s clear that Iowans will have the resources we need to rebuild.”

Federal Public Assistance is available for 56 counties

The declaration also makes available FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs to help public entities and select nonprofit organizations. The 56 counties eligible to apply for public assistance funding under this declaration are Adair, Allamakee, Audubon, Boone, Bremer, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Decatur, Dickinson, Emmet, Fayette, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Jasper, Kossuth, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Tama, Union, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury and Wright.

Hazard Mitigation Funding is available statewide

The governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future disasters by taking steps to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards.

Other counties may be added to the declaration as additional damage is reported to State officials.

For more information on flood recovery resources available to Iowans, visit www.floods2019.iowa.gov, or contact 2-1-1.

Federal Individual Assistance is available for five counties

The declaration by the President makes available the FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program for five counties, which provides aid to eligible homeowners, renters and businesses. Residents in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Woodbury counties are eligible to apply for this program, regardless of income.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time), seven days a week, until further notice.