Residents whose homes were flooded or damaged by the storms that hit Story County this month may be eligible for recovery assistance.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program can give qualifying households up to $7,000, according to a press release from Story County Emergency Management.

More than 300 Story County homeowners reported damage to their homes from last week’s storms, Melissa Spencer, Emergency Management coordinator, told the Story County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Because of the number of damaged homes, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management granted a request to open two disaster programs, Spencer said.

Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a disaster for Story County after severe weather struck July 2-4, the release said. That declaration activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program.

Anyone in Story County whose home was flooded or otherwise damaged by the storms is encouraged to apply, according to the release.

The flash flooding and river flooding were minor on both the Skunk and Ioway Rivers, Spencer said to the supervisors.

To qualify: A household’s income must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Household members must also be U.S. citizens or legal residents.

The grant money can be used to repair homes or cars, according to the release. It can also replace personal belongings or food and help cover the costs of temporary housing.

However, the release said the money only covers costs not already paid for by insurance or another assistance program.

Help with no income limit

A second program, called Disaster Case Advocacy, has no income requirements and costs residents nothing, according to the release. Case advocates work one-on-one with residents to build a personal recovery plan.

These advocates also connect residents with other services they might need as they rebuild, the release said.

How to apply

People can apply for both programs online through the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.

Residents with questions can also contact Story County Emergency Management.

—Kate Laffey contributed to the reporting.