#Derecho2020 thread - NERD EDITION - I will eschew my bona fides as an Iowan and get right to it:
There is nothing precluding Governor Reynolds asking for a federal disaster declaration like, yesterday. Here is why:
There is nothing precluding Governor Reynolds asking for a federal disaster declaration like, yesterday. Here is why:
There is a provision (Chet Culver used it during the 2008 floods) that let's one cut through the horsepucky (if you will) and ask for immediate federal disaster declaration.
A state must request a declaration - unless falls under the purview of Feds - like was done with COVID (sort of). Culver asked and 48 hours later (or less?) Bush said yep!
Now.
Now.
Mike Pence came to Iowa on Thursday - Reynolds pushed back her presser to Friday because of entertaining duties at Living History Farms (not a real farm) where Pence looked through xeroxed copies of derecho damage. Then whoosh! Off for fundraising.
So....had to wait a day, then....
I put this Q to Gov. Reynolds camp - why can't we just pull a '08-er here? (EXHIBIT A from the FEMA archives - google it) 
I asked Reynold's camp about this and was told it was different than 2008 (it isn't) with derecho as they were seeking a "major disaster" declaration.
I responded:
Then was told that that was only for one county and that Reynold's was going for the whole kit and caboodle. I responded - hey - why not just get a county (say Grundy or Linn for example) federal declarations and then just keep on adding (which is EXACTLY what Culver did)
It was at this point I met with frustration on the part of the Reynold's camp. Managed to wrangle back the focus and then got passed off to talk to someone about "the process" -- I am tedious. It is my job and I am old and grump enough to really lean into it.
This went on for 21 hours.
While I am working an exhaustive story about all of this since everyone's hair is finally on fire I just figured -- you know what have at it.
If a disaster is clearly beyond what a state can handle there is a provision in the act that allows Gov's to leapfrog the paperwork
If a disaster is clearly beyond what a state can handle there is a provision in the act that allows Gov's to leapfrog the paperwork
Which triggers appointment of a federal coordinator on the ground to work directly with state and local officials and establishes a federal home base (KC is our closest federal area -- we are area 7 for those keeping score). Meaning they help w/assessment so avoid redundancy
This opens up resources that can be directed to where most needed -- and be mindful here -- Reynolds floated the idea of using Care Act funds for the disaster -- which is a no-no -- I mean, they aren't even being use effectively right now...
After Reynolds visited Cedar Rapids she could have requested an immediate federal declaration as PDA was ongoing (see exhibit A for code reference). Or she could have stuck a note in Mike Pence's pocket.
Bottom line -- stay tuned but these are the broad strokes.
Bottom line -- stay tuned but these are the broad strokes.
