Iowa governor declares public health disaster from flooding

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a public health disaster emergency for the state following the widespread flooding and flash flooding that began March 13.

The declaration authorizes the Iowa Department of Public Health to take the necessary actions to protect the public’s health. It also initiates the mobilization of public health response teams.

“Local resources and capabilities are quickly becoming overwhelmed,” Reynolds said. “Authorizing the mobilization of public health response teams will ease that burden as this emergency event continues.”

Public health response teams are volunteers from health care institutions, local public health and environmental agencies, county medical examiner’s offices, private industry, the Office of the State Medical Examiner and state public health staff.

These state’s public health response system was established in 2003.

“Governor Reynold’s proclamation will give the department more flexibility to respond to public health emergencies as needed,” Department of Public Health Director Gerd Clabaugh said. “Our staff and trained volunteers are ready to respond to and help affected Iowans recover from the floods.”

The flooding has caused an estimated $1.6 billion in damage and claimed the life of one person. State officials estimate that the roads in the western part of the state could take months to re-open.