Nearly two years after historic flooding devastated the community, Rock Valley officials say a major piece of the city’s long recovery process is finally moving forward.
Federal officials have obligated more than $22.6 million through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support voluntary home buyouts in Rock Valley, allowing long-awaited property acquisitions and demolition work to move closer to reality.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra both announced the funding this week as part of more than $27 million in FEMA assistance awarded to communities across Iowa.
According to Grassley’s office, the funding will support the acquisition and demolition of 123 residential properties damaged during the June 2024 flooding. The city plans to purchase the properties, demolish existing structures, and convert the land to open space to reduce future flood risks.
A Long-Awaited Step Forward
In an interview with Sioux County Radio, City Administrator Tom Van Maanen said the funding represents the federal share of the overall buyout project.
“What they’re releasing is the federal share. And then you got the ten percent from the state and fifteen percent from the city.”
Van Maanen said the total buyout package is expected to approach $36 million once state and local contributions are included. He also noted the city’s share will be covered through a separate Community Development Block Grant program administered by the state and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
While federal releases listed between 104 and 123 properties as part of the project, Van Maanen said the city’s buyout program ultimately includes 124 properties.
In a statement provided by Feenstra’s communications team, Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo called the funding obligation a huge step forward for families who have patiently waited for the process to move ahead.
“This is really exciting news for our community. We’ve been working toward this moment for a long time, and knowing that FEMA has obligated our home buyout application is a huge step forward for the families who have been waiting so patiently.”
Helping Residents Move Forward
Van Maanen said helping residents through the buyout process has been the city’s top priority since the flooding.
“Unfortunately, the process is very long, and FEMA has it designed. It’s not an immediate action.”
He said the lengthy timeline has been especially difficult for residents.
“But to the homeowner that’s been waiting for two years, that’s, you know, an extremely long wait as they wait for the help that they needed.”
The city is still awaiting federal obligations for its maintenance facility and additional demolition-related projects.
Still, Van Maanen said the latest approval clears a major hurdle.
“We’re very excited to get this thing moving and getting some properties acquired and then the demolition so the scars of the flood can actually be removed from our community.”
The city also reminded residents that additional steps remain before acquisitions can begin and said more information will be released as officials work through the final paperwork with FEMA.
The federal funding announcement also included more than $360,000 to support the purchase of two properties in Hawarden and nearly $150,000 for the purchase of one property in Sioux Rapids.
