T-R PHOTO BY GARRY BRANDENBURG - Marshalltown shows damage from a July 19 EF-3 tornado.

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Wednesday that federal disaster assistance is available to Marshalltown for damage from the July 19 EF-3 tornado.

The aid was approved by President Donald Trump and is a part of money going to “the state of Iowa to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and tornadoes on July 19, 2018,” according to the announcement.

In order to receive FEMA funding, the state had to assess the ability of the city to recover from the tornado damage. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration and letter to Trump, signifying the damage was deemed too great for local and state recovery capabilities.

Mayor Joel Greer, along with mayors in other affected communities, met Trump briefly a few days after the tornado while the president visited Dubuque.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and tornadoes in Lee, Marion, Marshall and Van Buren counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures within the state, according to the announcement.

Timothy J. Scranton has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Scranton said additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of further damage assessments.