Severe Weather

Northwest and central Iowa adjust to an early drought this summer.

Host Charity Nebbe and her guests discuss emergency preparedness and what Iowans should be equipped with to properly respond when disaster strikes.

Host Charity Nebbe and her guests discuss emergency preparedness and what Iowans should be equipped with to properly respond when disaster strikes.

Iowans have dealt with a year of COVID-19. But the pandemic was just the tip of the iceberg for one small city. The heavily Latino city of Marshalltown had a rough 2020, but its people have persevered despite their challenges.

Parts of Iowa can expect a major winter storm today with strong winds and temperatures dropping. Iowans are advised to avoid driving today in the northwest part of the state.

Iowa homeowners and renters affected by last month's derecho have so far been awarded more than $5 million in federal aid, according to officials. More funding is available for housing assistance, debris removal and on-farm losses, among other impacts.

The derecho that hit Iowa last month devastated parts of rural Iowa, leaving some homes unlivable and flattened crop fields. The destruction on some farmsteads is so extensive, it's changing the very landscape. Not all will rebuild what they've lost.

FEMA has approved individual assistance for an additional 10 Iowa counties three weeks after the powerful derecho hit the state. The delay had raised some concerns among residents and officials in rural Iowa that their communities would not get the aid, which they say is sorely needed.

In the wake of the derecho, so far FEMA has only granted federal disaster assistance to individuals in Linn County. Meanwhile, in next door Benton County, residents are still reeling from the devastating impacts of the storm, and feel abandoned by state and federal officials.

The rare and powerful derecho storm that clobbered Iowa earlier this month came with little warning, but packed the punch of Category 4 hurricane. In the wake of the storm, some Iowans are reassessing how to better warn the public of future storms.