President Trump to tour Iowa storm damage Tuesday
President Donald Trump will tour storm damage in Iowa Tuesday, a day after approving a disaster declaration for the state after a derecho caused massive damage August 10.
reports Trump will be in Cedar Rapids Tuesday to tour damage and meet with Gov. Kim Reynolds to discuss the local, state and federal response.
No other details have been released. Check the vlog Breaking News and Weather App for updates on this developing story.
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President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he has approved a disaster declaration for Iowa after a derecho ravaged portions of the state last week.
CBS News reports the president made the comments as he left on a trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota. He also hinted that he may visit Iowa to see the damage if not Monday, then “soon.” His chief of staff later clarified that the president would not be visiting Iowa Monday.
“He wanted to go to Iowa today. Logistically, we could not make it work at the last minute,” Mark Meadows said.
“I’ve just approved an emergency declaration for Iowa, who had an incredible windstorm like probably they’ve never seen before,” Trump said. “Really did a lot of damage.”
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Sunday that she officially requested an expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration after the derecho on Aug. 10.
The request estimates that Iowa will need nearly $4 billion from the federal government in order to recover. In the estimates, she includes 8,273 homes that were destroyed or had major damage, $23.6 million for the damage of public infrastructure and $21.6 million for removal and disposal of debris.
“From cities to farms, Iowans are hurting, many still have challenges with shelter, food, and power. Resilience is in our DNA, but we’re going to need a strong and timely federal response to support recovery efforts,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I have formally requested an expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to secure this critical federal assistance as quickly as possible. This past week I had conversations with President Trump and Vice President Pence, both have pledged the full support of the federal government. I am very grateful for their continued partnership and commitment during this disaster.”
For the latest updates on the derecho, click here.
For ways on how to help Iowans after the derecho, click here.