The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has approved more than $77 million in disaster recovery and hazard mitigation funding for projects across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
The funding will help state and local governments repair damaged infrastructure, restore public buildings, and recover costs related to emergency response efforts following natural disasters. FEMA officials say the investments are aimed at helping communities rebuild stronger and better prepare for future disasters.
Several Iowa projects received significant funding. More than $25 million was awarded to Cornell College in Mount Vernon for emergency stabilization work on the historic King Chapel structure. In northwest Iowa, the City of Spencer will receive more than $2.3 million for recovery efforts, while the Spencer Community School District was awarded more than $3.1 million for repairs.
Elsewhere in the region, FEMA approved more than $4.3 million for permanent repairs to infrastructure operated by the Burt County Public Power District in Nebraska and more than $3 million for repairs to Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. The City of Grinnell, Kansas, will receive more than $300,000 for road repairs and replacement of damaged curbs, road surfaces, and traffic signs.
In addition to recovery funding, FEMA is providing more than $180,000 through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for a project in Nebraska designed to reduce future disaster-related damage. The program supports proactive measures such as flood protection projects, safer building standards, utility upgrades, and the construction of safe rooms.
FEMA says the funding reflects its ongoing commitment to helping communities recover from disasters including severe storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires while improving resilience against future events. Officials noted that disaster recovery and mitigation efforts are led by state and local governments, with federal support provided through FEMA programs.
