The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied Iowans disaster relief for tornado victims in Marshall and Polk counties.
On Tuesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds office announced that FEMA has denied an appeal of the agency's earlier rejection. The request was for individual disaster assistance for relief from damage caused by the July 19 tornadoes. The assistance would have helped homeowners, renters and businesses in the two counties.
In FEMA's denial letter, the agency stated that the damage wasn't severe or widespread enough to merit individual assistance.
President Trump had designated Marshall and Polk counties as disasters areas, which made them eligible for other kinds of assistance. The most widespread damage was in Marshalltown, where more than 900 homes sustained damage.