Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation Thursday, June 12, covering 11 Iowa counties hit by severe weather — a move that unlocks state resources and can accelerate federal assistance requests for affected areas.
The proclamation
Disaster proclamations in Iowa give the governor authority to deploy the Iowa National Guard, redirect state agency personnel, and formally document damages needed for a federal disaster declaration request to FEMA. Without the proclamation, counties must navigate recovery largely on their own budgets.
KCRG reported the action Thursday evening. Which 11 counties are included, the specific type of severe weather that triggered the declaration, and the extent of damage across those areas weren’t immediately detailed in available reports.
Reynolds has issued similar proclamations after past storm events — tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding have each prompted declarations in recent years. Iowa’s tornado and severe thunderstorm season typically runs through late June, and 2026 has already produced multiple rounds of damaging weather across the state.
Whether Reynolds will request a federal major disaster declaration from FEMA hasn’t been announced.
Reported by KCRG. Read the original report.
