Sens. Grassley, Ernst, Rep. Finkenauer Support Meskwaki Nation's Request for a Major Disaster Declaration

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release on Aug. 21:

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Rep. Abby Finkenauer (IA-1) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting he promptly grant the request made by the Meskwaki Nation for an expedited declaration of a major disaster in response to the severe wind event on August 10, 2020. The Tribe was significantly affected by the storm, including residents displaced from home damage, facility damage, loss of power and gas, damage to roadways and infrastructure and loss of communication services.

"Meskwaki Nation determined that this incident has exceeded its capabilities and capacities to begin to recover from this event... Supplementary federal assistance is necessary to protect property, public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of disaster," the members wrote.

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August 21, 2020

To: The Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We respectfully ask that you promptly grant the request made by the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi of Iowa, known as Meskwaki Nation, as a result of the derecho wind event on August 10, 2020. Major impacts have been felt by the Tribe due to the displacement of residents from home damage, facility damage, loss of power and gas, damage to roadways and infrastructure, and loss of communication services.

The Meskwaki Nation determined that this incident has exceeded its capabilities and capacities to begin to recover from this event. The Tribe is also asking for Hazard Mitigation funding to build back a more resilient infrastructure for its people. Supplementary federal assistance is necessary 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.