Today is 2/4/2012
Ames Public Library
515 Douglas Avenue
Ames, Iowa 50010
Fines, Renewals, etc:
(515) 239-5646
Reference Services:
(515) 239-5656
Mon-Thur: 9am-9pm
Fri-Sat: 9am-6pm
Sun: 1pm-5pm
The Water Boil Alert has been lifted. For information on flushing your home's water system, click here.
Local News |
Numbers to Know
FEMA Disaster Assistance: 1-800-621-3362 Volunteer Call Center: 239-5678 Red Cross: 232-5104 Iowa DOT: 239-1101 Power Outage: 239-5240
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City of Ames Flood Recovery Initiatives
Federal Financial Assistance (FEMA) >>
"Iowans Helping Iowans" Program (State of Iowa) >>
"Story County Cares" Disaster Assistance Fund (Donations) >>
Property Clean Up & Repair (Local Resources) >>
Coordinated Assistance for Residential Recovery (Volunteers) >>
Federal Financial Assistance
For homes, apartment units and businesses damaged by the recent river flooding, flash-flooding or wind damage:
- First check with your insurance carrier to determine if any of the damage is covered by your insurance policy.
- Story County has now been designated as a federal disaster area for damage incurred since June 1. Individual residents, property owners and businesses may be eligible for assistance for uninsured losses. FEMA may set up a local processing center within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, residents and business owners should contact FEMA through the website or phone numbers listed below.
Residents will need this information: Name, social security number, current and pre-disaster address, phone numbers, type of insurance coverage, total household annual income, and bank routing and account number information.- By Computer: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
Public computers are available at Ames Public Library. Library staff will be available to support citizens in contacting FEMA through the Internet. - By Phone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- By Computer: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
State of Iowa's "Iowans Helping Iowans" Program
The City of Ames has been designated as the administrator of the State of Iowa's “Iowans Helping Iowans” Disaster Assistance Program.
All information and applications regarding this program can be obtained at www.IowansHelpingIowans.com. If you do not have access to a computer, please contact the Ames Public Library at (515) 239-5656 for computer assistance. The programs are designed to provide clean-up assistance and housing assistance for those who suffered losses in the recent floods.
Additionally, assistance for small businesses who suffered losses in the recent floods can be accessed through the website.
The Iowans Helping Iowans program will supplement federal individual assistance following Presidential Disaster Declarations for Iowa’s counties.
"Story County Cares" Disaster Assistancee Fund
The United Way of Story County is accepting monetary contributions for its “Story County Cares” disaster assistance fund. Criteria for receiving assistance from this fund is currently being developed by the Story County Coalition for Disaster Recovery. Applications will be available at a later date from the United Way at 315 Clark Avenue or from other locations, and residents should keep all receipt for disaster-related expenses. Funding from this program will be limited based upon donations received.
Those who wish to contribute to this local disaster assistance fund may send checks payable to the United Way of Story County marked “Story County Cares.”
Property Clean Up & Repair
- ISU Extension has posted links with useful information regarding the safe and effective clean-up of flood damage. That information may be found at:
www.extension.iastate.edu/disasterrecovery/flood.htm
- Repair of structures – In the event that damaged structures could require repairs, the City’s Inspections Division should be contacted at 239-5153 before any repair work is initiated to see if any permits are needed or other work is required.
- Clean-up kits – For property owners who can address the situation on their own, clean-up kits are available from the American Red Cross Office at 426 Fifth Street. Kits include a mop, broom, bucket, sponge, rubber gloves, Clorox and squeegees. Call the Red Cross Office at 232-5104 to make sure the kits are in stock before pick up.
- “Neighbor to Neighbor” City-wide Outreach – Recent storms have had an unprecedented impact on residents across the entire city, creating needs far beyond the capacity of either individuals or government agencies. In the spirit of “One Community,” the cornerstone of Ames effort to meet residents’ needs is for Ames citizens, “Neighbor to Neighbor,” to reach out and help one another.
Residents are encouraged to simply ask about needs and offer help to their next door neighbors, to needy families in their neighborhood, or through faith-based groups or service organizations. This requires no centralized organization, but is a wonderful, one-time opportunity for every citizen and group to reach out and help someone in need, Neighbor to Neighbor.
- Coordinated Assistance for Residential Recovery – RSVP
In addition to the city-wide Neighbor to Neighbor initiative, a centralized system is also being formed to match volunteer and material assistance with residents who have special circumstances and need help with their clean-up.
- Residential property owners needing assistance with the physical clean up of flood damage who are:
1) 65 years of age or older, or
2) Disabled, or
3) Have special circumstances
may call the Central Iowa Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) phone bank at 239-5678 from Wednesday, August 18th through Friday, August 20th between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. RSVP will coordinate volunteer assistance to help those property owners needing special help with clean up.
Volunteers are needed to assist RSVP in accomplishing this clean-up effort. Individuals and groups willing to offer their time to clean up residential properties should call RSVP at 239-5678 during the hours listed above.
We are also in need of supplies and equipment such as gloves, fans, pumps, dehumidifers, shovels, buckets, mops, squeegees, and disinfectant. Businesses willing to donate these types of materials for clean up efforts should contact RSVP at 239-5678 during the hours listed above.
- Residential property owners needing assistance with the physical clean up of flood damage who are:
