T-R FILE PHOTO The city of Marshalltown received $4.4 million in reimbursement from FEMA earlier this week to offset the cost of debris cleanup as a result of the 2020 derecho. Tree damages and losses were widespread across the community.

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) announced this earlier this week that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved $4.4 million in reimbursement for the city of Marshalltown in the wake of past derecho cleanup efforts. The city has invested approximately $4.9 million in mainly debris cleanup in the last two years, and the new pledge from FEMA comes as welcome news for a community still recovering from natural disaster.

Marshalltown City Administrator Jessica Kinser made it clear how important the financial aid is to the community and taking care of debts that have been on the books for two years. She also applauded the government’s decision to take most of the burden off of the city itself and place it on state and federal entities.

“President Biden had made a declaration that communities who had disasters during a certain time period that involved COVID-19 would not have to provide a local match,” Kinser said. Typically, FEMA would reimburse 75 percent, the state 10 percent, and the local entity (Marshalltown) would have to come up with 15 percent to cover those costs. Instead, it has changed into a 100 percent reimbursement, 90 percent from FEMA and 10 percent from the state.

While the city has completed the majority of the cleanup missions, there are tasks still in progress, according to Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer. Some of the stumps and fallen trees still need to be removed from terrace areas between streets and sidewalks.

Proactive community groups like the MHS Class of 1969 and Trees Forever have also led efforts to replant trees, and they have already donated enough to exceed the number of trees needed to replace the fallen.

“Marshalltown appreciates the help that we have received from the governor’s office and FEMA to help us repair and build even better,” Greer said.

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