City of Rock Valley Announces First FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Home Buyout Approvals

Rock Valley, Iowa — The City of Rock Valley has been notified that the first five homes submitted under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) have been approved for voluntary buyouts. These homes are also the first properties in the State of Iowa to receive approval following the 2024 flooding and tornado disasters.

The five properties were submitted as a separate “micro application” after Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management (IHSEM) staff identified that the homes may have potential historical significance. To prevent this review from delaying the larger citywide buyout application, these properties were separated and submitted independently for review.

 “Getting these first five approvals is a very positive step for our community,” said Tom Van Maanen, City Administrator. “It shows the process is moving and brings us closer to securing buyouts for all affected homeowners so they can rebuild their lives.”

 City officials have met with the affected homeowners to review the next steps in the voluntary buyout process. As part of the implementation phase, the City will soon issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for several professional services needed to complete the buyouts. These will include legal services to manage purchase agreements and property transfers, a licensed asbestos inspector, a certified asbestos abatement contractor, and a demolition contractor.

 Meanwhile, Rock Valley’s larger HMGP buyout application continues to move through the federal review process. The benefit-cost analysis for the project has already been approved by FEMA. FEMA recently informed IHSEM that environmental and historical reviews would be required for the 28 properties that were moved from FEMA’s Swift Current program into the HMGP application.

 IHSEM officials have pointed out to FEMA that these properties previously underwent environmental and historical reviews as part of the Swift Current program and that the required review standards are identical. This was the most recent correspondence between IHSEM and FEMA Region VII in Kansas City prior to the recent partial federal government shutdown.

 Because of the partial government shutdown, the larger application is not currently advancing, which has created frustration for homeowners and local officials awaiting resolution.

 The City of Rock Valley is actively working with Governor Kim Reynolds, Congressman Randy Feenstra, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Senator Joni Ernst to request that FEMA leadership advance the application out of FEMA Region VII into the Large Project Congressional Notice phase.

 The Large Project Congressional Notice period lasts 30 days. Once completed, the application would move to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security for the obligation of funds. When those funds are obligated, the City will be able to begin the formal process of voluntary home buyouts for all properties included in the HMGP application.

 City officials remain committed to working with state and federal partners to ensure residents affected by the 2024 flooding disaster can move forward as quickly as possible.

Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.