Many in rural America feel as though they have been left behind by today’s Federal Disaster Relief Programs. Iowans especially have been vocal about their disappointment.
Senator Joni Ernst says that she has seen the impacts firsthand.
“When my state was hit with natural disasters earlier this year, it became evident to me why they thought so. I was on the ground after each of these disasters and heard first-hand from Iowans about the difficulties they had in navigating recovery efforts,” the Senator states. “I heard from folks whose insurance couldn’t cover the full repair or replacement of homes, businesses, or equipment because reckless Washington spending has made everything more expensive, even though they did the right thing, and put money away in case of emergency. Hyperinflation meant it just wasn’t enough.”
Thankfully, where rural Americans feel federal programs fall short, local banks have stepped up.
According to Verlin Gus Barker, the President and CEO of First Community, “Experience has convinced me that the best solutions are local. Community banks have always been on the front lines of disaster recovery efforts in Iowa, and I’m proud that local families, farms, and small businesses have turned to me in their time of need. Now, federal programs will never displace local community banks, which are always ready to provide vital resources promptly and without bureaucratic obstacles. SBA direct lending and other federal disaster recovery programs have always played a critical role in the survival of disaster-stricken businesses. Unfortunately, these programs are mired in bureaucratic red tape. Disaster victims are in no position to complete that excessive paperwork.”
Another point of contention is a lack of access to those SBA loan programs, which farming families are considered ineligible for.
