Iowa Code § 29C.6 — IA Code / Title I / Chapter 29C / Section 29C.6
Proclamation of disaster emergency by governor.
Status: in_force

In exercising the governor’s powers and duties under this chapter and to effect the policy and purpose, the governor may:

(1) After finding a disaster exists or is threatened, proclaim a state of disaster emergency. This proclamation shall be in writing, indicate the area affected and the facts upon which it is based, be signed by the governor, and be filed with the secretary of state. If the state of disaster emergency specifically constitutes a public health disaster as defined in section 135.140, the written proclamation shall include a statement to that effect. A state of disaster emergency shall continue for thirty days, unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by the governor. The general assembly may, by concurrent resolution, rescind this proclamation. If the general assembly is not in session, the legislative council may, by majority vote, rescind this proclamation. Rescission shall be effective upon filing of the concurrent resolution or resolution of the legislative council with the secretary of state. A proclamation of disaster emergency shall activate the disaster response and recovery aspect of the state, local, and interjurisdictional disaster emergency plans applicable to the political subdivision or area in question and be authority for the deployment and use of any forces to which the plan applies, and for use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, and materials and facilities assembled, stockpiled, or arranged to be made available.

(2) When, at the request of the governor, the president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in this state, enter into purchase, lease, or other arrangements with any agency of the United States for temporary housing units to be occupied by disaster victims and to make such units available to any political subdivision of the state, to assist any political subdivision of this state which is the locus of temporary housing for disaster victims, to acquire sites necessary for such temporary housing and to do all things required to prepare such sites to receive and utilize temporary housing units, by advancing or lending funds available to the governor from any appropriation made by the legislature or from any other source, allocating funds made available by any agency, public or private, or becoming a copartner with the political subdivision for the execution and performance of any temporary housing for disaster victims project. Any political subdivision of this state is expressly authorized to acquire, temporarily or permanently, by purchase, lease, or otherwise, sites required for installation of temporary housing units for disaster victims, and to enter into whatever arrangements are necessary to prepare or equip such sites to utilize the housing units. The governor may temporarily suspend or modify, for not to exceed sixty days, any public health, safety, zoning, transportation, or other requirement of law or regulation within this state when by proclamation, the governor deems such suspension or modification essential to provide temporary housing for disaster victims.

(3) When the president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in the state and upon the governor’s determination that a local government of the state will suffer a substantial loss of tax and other revenues from a major disaster and has demonstrated a need for financial assistance to perform its governmental functions, apply to the federal government, on behalf of the local government for a loan, receive and disburse the proceeds of any approved loan to any applicant local government, determine the amount needed by any applicant local government to restore or resume its governmental functions, and certify the same to the federal government; however, no application amount shall exceed twenty-five percent of the annual operating budget of the applicant for the fiscal year in which the major disaster occurs. The governor may recommend to the federal government, based upon the governor’s review, the cancellation of all or any part of repayment when, in the first three full fiscal year period following the major disaster, the revenues of the local government are insufficient to meet its operating expenses, including additional disaster-related expenses of a municipal operation character.

(4) When a disaster emergency is proclaimed, notwithstanding any other provision of law, through the use of state agencies or the use of any of the political subdivisions of the state, clear or remove from publicly or privately owned land or water, debris and wreckage which may threaten public health or safety or public or private property. The governor may accept funds from the federal government and utilize such funds to make grants to any local government for the purpose of removing debris or wreckage from publicly or privately owned land or water. Authority shall not be exercised by the governor unless the affected local government, corporation, organization, or individual shall first present an additional authorization for removal of such debris or wreckage from public and private property and, in the case of removal of debris or wreckage from private property, such corporation, organization, or individual shall first agree to hold harmless the state or local government against any claim arising from such removal. The state and any of its officers or employees who are engaged in the removal of debris or wreckage on public property shall not be liable to the affected local government on account of any act or omission in good faith while so engaged or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection with the removal of debris or wreckage. For purposes of this subsection, “good faith” shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness. When the governor provides for clearance of debris or wreckage, employees of the designated state agencies or individuals appointed by the state may enter upon private land or waters and perform any tasks necessary to the removal or clearance operation. Any state employee or agent complying with orders of the governor and performing duties pursuant to such orders under this chapter shall be considered to be acting within the scope of employment within the meaning specified in chapter 669.

(5) When the president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in the state and upon the governor’s determination that financial assistance is essential to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of individuals or families adversely affected by a major disaster that cannot be otherwise adequately met from other means of assistance, accept a grant by the federal government to fund such financial assistance, subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed upon the grant and enter into an agreement with the federal government pledging the state to participate in the funding of the financial assistance authorized in an amount not to exceed twenty-five percent thereof, and, if state funds are not otherwise available to the governor, accept an advance of the state share from the federal government to be repaid when the state is able to do so.

(6) Suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business, or the orders or rules, of any state agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any statute, order, or rule would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency by stating in a proclamation such reasons. Upon the request of a local governing body, the governor may also suspend statutes limiting local governments in their ability to provide services to aid disaster victims.

(7) On behalf of this state, enter into mutual aid arrangements with other states, including mutual aid arrangements with other states that extend the terms and conditions set forth in the interstate emergency management assistance compact described in section 29C.21 to situations in which an emergency or disaster proclamation has not been made by the governor of an affected state, and to coordinate mutual aid plans between political subdivisions of this state.

(8) Delegate any administrative authority vested in the governor under this chapter and provide for the subdelegation of any such authority.

(9) Cooperate with the president of the United States and the heads of the armed forces, the emergency management agencies of the United States and other appropriate federal officers and agencies and with the officers and agencies of other states in matters pertaining to emergency management of the state and nation.

(10) Utilize all available resources of the state government as reasonably necessary to cope with the disaster emergency and of each political subdivision of the state.

(11) Transfer the direction, personnel, or functions of state departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating emergency management.

(12) Subject to any applicable requirements for compensation, commandeer or utilize any private property if the governor finds this necessary to cope with the disaster emergency.

(13) Direct the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area within the state if the governor deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response, or recovery.

(14) Prescribe routes, modes of transportation, and destinations in connection with evacuation.

(15) Control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises in such area.

(16) Suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages, explosives, and combustibles.

(17) (a) When the president of the United States has declared a major disaster to exist in the state or any other emergency financial assistance is provided by the federal government, and upon the governor’s determination that financial assistance is essential to meet disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs of local and state government adversely affected by a major disaster or emergency that cannot be otherwise adequately met from other means of assistance, accept a grant by the federal government to fund the financial assistance, subject to terms and conditions imposed upon the grant, and enter into an agreement with the federal government pledging the state to participate in the funding of the financial assistance authorized to local government and eligible private nonprofit agencies in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the total eligible expenses, with the applicant providing the balance of any participation amount. If financial assistance is granted by the federal government for state disaster or emergency financial assistance-related expenses or serious needs, the state shall participate in the funding of the financial assistance authorized in an amount not to exceed twenty-five percent of the total eligible expenses. If financial assistance is granted by the federal government for hazard mitigation, the state may participate in the funding of the financial assistance authorized to a local government in an amount not to exceed ten percent of the eligible expenses, with the applicant providing the balance of any participation amount. If financial assistance is granted by the federal government for state-related hazard mitigation, the state may participate in the funding of the financial assistance authorized, not to exceed fifty percent of the total eligible expenses. If state funds are not otherwise available to the governor, an advance of the state share may be accepted from the federal government to be repaid when the state is able to do so.

(17) (b) State participation in funding financial assistance under paragraph “a” is contingent upon the local government having on file a state-approved, comprehensive emergency plan which meets the standards adopted pursuant to section 29C.9, subsection 8.

(18) Direct the disbursement of moneys by the department of management under section 8.55, subsection 3, paragraph “f”, with the approval of the executive council.

[C62, §28A.3; C66, 71, 73, 75, §29C.3; C77, 79, 81, §29C.6; 81 Acts, ch 32, §2]85 Acts, ch 53, §1; 92 Acts, ch 1139, §4; 99 Acts, ch 86, §3, 4; 2003 Acts, ch 33, §7, 11; 2011 Acts, ch 69, §3; 2014 Acts, ch 1014, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 54, §76; 2017 Acts, ch 69, §35; 2022 Acts, ch 1081, §1; 2023 Acts, ch 66, §7; 2024 Acts, ch 1043, §31; 2024 Acts, ch 1069, §1; 2025 Acts, ch 28, §83