(Des Moines, Iowa) –The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced resources for families affected by the severe weather system that moved across Iowa and caused widespread damage on Monday, August 10.

Iowa families who currently receive Food Assistance can request to replace food that was destroyed or spoiled as the result of storm damage or power outage. The application form and instructions for submission can be found on the DHS website. Completed applications forms must be received by DHS 10 calendar days from date of discovery of food loss (not from when the storm/incident occurred) to be considered for replacement. There are minimum timeframes to claim spoilage as a result of a power outage. The outage must be at least four hours for refrigerated items and 24 to 48 hours for freezer replacement.

Additionally, all eligible residents of Disaster Proclaimed counties (Benton, Boone, Cedar, Clarke, Clinton, Dallas, Greene, Grundy, Hardin, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, Tama, and Washington) can apply for the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program. The program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $43,440 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses.