Government

MALVERN – It may be weeks or months before Mills County officials have a precise reading on the percentage of crops destroyed or damaged this year by flooding along the Missouri River and devastating hail and high winds that accompanied a pair of August thunderstorms, but there’s no doubt that production losses in the county will be substantial.

Mills County is now taking applications for Iowa Disaster Assistance from individuals affected by the hail storms on Aug. 18 and Aug. 22 as well as from those individuals and families who have had flood-related expenses.

    Applicants must meet the income requirements and present receipts for expenditures related to either event listed above. Expenses must fit into the application guidelines with a maximum reimbursement amount of $5,000 per household.  

Floodwaters may be receding in areas of Mills County but dangers remain for motorists on the county’s many closed roads, said Mills County Engineer Kevin Mayberry.

    Mayberry, speaking at a Flood Policy Group meeting at Glenwood Community High School earlier this month, said many of the county’s roads closed entirely or partially by floodwaters in evacuated portions of western Mills County could be months away from being passable due to damage caused by the water.

The mayors of Hastings and Silver City said they were surprised to learn last week the post offices in their respective communities are among the more than 3,700 nationwide being considered for permanent closure by the U.S. Postal Service.

    “Actually, we are kind of surprised because in the past, we’ve been told because of the number of rural customers we have, the fact that we have a postmaster and the fact that the school (Nishna Valley) is considered to be in Hastings, we’d be OK,” Hastings Mayor Troy Hatcher said.