Governor Reynolds Issues Disaster Proclamation
Governor Kim Reynolds yesterday issued a disaster proclamation for Sioux County and three other counties after Sunday night’s devastating storms. The storms had high winds that toppled trees and left thousands of residents without power. The proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program for Sioux County and the other three counties: Hancock, O’Brien, and Osceola.
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $7,000 for households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level for home or car repairs, temporary housing expenses, and replacement of personal property or food. The Disaster Care Advocacy Program involves disaster case advocates working with clients to address serious needs associated with disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse conditions.
Clean up Continues in Sioux County
Sioux County had 900 power outages after the storm on Sunday night and early Monday morning. As of 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, those outages were down to 174, according to MidAmerican Energy. Sioux County Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan De Kruyf says crews will continue working to resolve power outages and clear debris in Orange City and other affected areas today.
No one was injured in the storm. De Kruyf continues to asking residents to go to the county website and make damage reports if they have not done so yet.
Crop Duster Crashes in Plymouth County
One person was injured when a crop dusting plane crash landed in a field in rural Plymouth County Monday afternoon. The Plymouth County Sheriff says they received an I-Phone crash alert in the area of highways K-22 and C-16 around 3:40 p.m.
First responders found the small plane overturned in the field. Authorities say the pilot, Jonathan Gilland of Elkton, Tennessee, was attempting an emergency landing when his plane hit a rut in the field and overturned. Gilland was transported to Mercy One in Sioux city with non-life threatening injuries.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue also decontaminated the field where the crash occurred.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue Launches Citizens Academy
Le Mars Fire-Rescue is accepting applications to its first Citizens Academy. John MacGregor is the EMS Supervisor for Le Mars-Fire Rescue. MacGregor says he has had the idea for the academy on his radar for some time.
MacGregor said, recently, he got the ok to start up the academy, which will run for five weeks and begin September 2nd.
MacGregor explains the academy will go beyond just the basics of firefighting.
MacGregor says understanding how to handle hazardous materials is important in a city like Le Mars, which has an ice cream factory and rail road tracks running through it.
The academy will provide students with hands-on experience in everything from handling hoses to using ambulance equipment.
The Le Mars Fire-Rescue Citizens Academy is open to all Plymouth County Residents ages 18 and older. Applications are now being taken. You can pick one up at Le Mars Fire-Rescue or you can email John MacGregor at jmacgregor@lemarsiowa.com. The application deadline is August 20. The free academy will be held from Tuesday, Sept. 2 to Thursday, Oct. 2. There will be 10 sessions from 6-8 p.m. held over the five-week period at the Fire-Rescue Station, 45 First Ave. S.W.
Plymouth County Board of Supervisors
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors yesterday put off a decision on a request from the Merrill Ambulance Department. Board Chair Don Kass says the department asked for funds to purchase an electric stair chair and a powerlift system for $43,000. The purchase would have to be paid for with money from the county’s portion of the state opioid settlement, which is $768,000.
The county has about $20,000 left in the fund after supervisors approved $196,383 in funds for four ambulance services to buy advanced defibrillators.
Kass said there also said there were concerns that the request did not necessarily lend itself to opioid funding and the request was tabled for consideration at a later date.
