RIO Press Release
| For Immediate Release | Media Contact : |
| October 13, 2009 | Tina Potthoff |
REBUILD IOWA OFFICE’S OCTOBER QUARTERLY REPORT DETAILS RECOVERY PROCESS
In-Depth Report Outlines Housing, Business and Community Planning Progress and Challenges
(DES MOINES) – Today, the Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO) released its October Quarterly Report. The report discusses progress, success stories and challenges in Iowa’s statewide recovery effort from the 2008 floods and storms. The document also lists specific examples and updated statistics on how disaster-assistance programs are helping Iowans and their impacted communities rebuild.
The RIO’S 138-page October Quarterly Report continues to detail the Office’s economic recovery strategy in the categories of housing; business; workforce development; infrastructure investments; individual services and guidance; local economic recovery; smart growth; mitigation planning; flood plain and watershed management; flood plain mapping; quality of life; and emergency management. The report includes data from community and individual surveys regarding the effectiveness of the recovery and its established programs. The report also identifies challenges and bottlenecks that still remain for local, state and federal officials working on the state’s long-term recovery plan.
In addition to disaster assistance program results, the report also includes an updated selection of charts showing the flow of federal and state disaster recovery funding to the state, counties, cities and individuals affected by the 2008 disasters.
“This Quarterly Report shows updates to our recovery strategy, including new outreach efforts to impacted Iowans and new quantifiable data on the disaster’s impact and recovery progress from local communities and businesses,” said Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis, RIO’s executive director. “This report also outlines the Office’s work toward regional planning for this disaster and beyond with our local, state and federal partners. It is imperative that the RIO continue to educate all Iowans about the recovery process as we move forward in rebuilding Iowa safer, stronger and smarter.”
The report was prepared for Governor Chet Culver and Iowa legislators in accordance with House File 64. The bill, which was signed into law in February, made $56 million in state funds available for disaster recovery and officially established the RIO through June 30, 2011. The legislation also called for quarterly reports by the office to show progress in the recovery effort.
This is the RIO’s third Quarterly Report since the Office was formalized in February. The first Quarterly Report was issued in April. To access the October Quarterly Report, as well as the RIO’s previous reports, visit the RIO Web site at www.rio.iowa.gov/resources/reports.html. The RIO’s next report will be released in January 2010.
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