Letter to Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States - Grassley, Iowa Delegation Urge Biden To Grant Much-Needed Disaster Relief For December's Severe Storms

Press Release

Dear Mr. President,

We respectfully ask that you promptly grant the request made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds
for a major disaster declaration for the State of Iowa as a result of severe weather on December 15,
2021, which produced high winds, severe storms, and tornadoes. This weather caused significant
damage to public infrastructure and private property.

Governor Reynolds has requested Hazard Mitigation statewide and activation of the Public
Assistance. Public Assistance was requested for Appanoose, Audubon, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cass,
Cherokee, Davis, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt,
Mills, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Van Buren, Webster, Worth, and Wright counties.

This rapidly moving, powerful, low-pressure system moved rapidly across Iowa fueling a line
of severe thunderstorms producing numerous tornadoes and hurricane-force thunderstorm wind gusts
across the state and region. As of December 22, 2021, there were at least 43 confirmed tornadoes that occurred in Iowa on December 15, 2021, which set a new Iowa record for tornadoes on a single day.

The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective
response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and supplementary
federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this important request.

Sincerely,[...]