Gov. Kim Reynolds, delivering her Condition of the State message Tuesday, said the state needs to take action on disaster recovery in the wake of 2024 floods and tornadoes, in addition to laying out policies she said can help address Iowa’s workforce shortages in child care and health care.
It’s Reynolds’ eighth time giving the speech as governor and her first time addressing the Legislature with supermajorities in both chambers following another election cycle of GOP victories in Iowa. Though Reynolds highlighted the victories achieved with the Republican trifecta on reducing taxes and making changes to Iowa’s education system, much of her address Tuesday focused on the efforts and community support shown by Iowans across the state in the wake of major natural disasters.
Iowa dealt with a series of major disasters in 2024: tornadoes hit towns including Greenfield and Minden in April and May, and major swaths of northwest and north-central Iowa were severely flooded in June. Biden declared three presidential major disaster declarations for the natural disasters that destroyed more than 5,500 homes in the state and caused an estimated $335 million in infrastructure damages.
As Iowa communities faced the disasters and long recovery process, Reynolds said it was “inspiring†to see the massive response from people across the state and country to help those in need.
“I’ll never forget the devastation and heartbreak,†Reynolds said. “But I also witnessed Iowans lifting each other up. Volunteers clearing debris, residents comforting neighbors and local officials and first responders working around the clock. Many of whom had their own homes or businesses destroyed, yet they put others first.â€
The governor has already launched multiple programs in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help Iowans find temporary housing and rebuild impacted homes, but called for new legislation to further help residents and businesses in disaster-affected areas.
Her proposal includes $13.6 million in disaster aid through the Economic Emergency Fund, including $11.6 million for home rehabilitation programs and $2 million to the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Fund for aid to local communities seeking to tear down buildings beyond repair in impacted areas. The legislation would also authorize the Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management to set up a “Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund†in preparation for future disasters.
The legislation will also include other policies, like adjustments to certain insurance regulations and giving the governor authority to transfer emergency funds during disasters, in response to issues that arose during the 2024 flooding and tornadoes.
Reynolds thanked volunteers, leaders and state and local workers who responded to the disasters across the state, several of whom were in attendance at the Tuesday speech.
“You represent so many others across the state who demonstrated the strength, compassion and determination that defines Iowa,†she told the group.
