Hawarden receives nearly $1 million for voluntary buyouts of flood-damaged properties

Hawarden has received a $997,885 FEMA award to acquire properties damaged in the June 2024 flooding, providing federal funding for voluntary buyouts and longer-term flood mitigation.

The award, reported July 9, 2026, is connected to FEMA Disaster 4796. It is intended to help the city recover from the disaster while reducing the potential for future damage in areas affected by flooding.

Funding targets flood-damaged properties

The June 2024 disaster included severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes across the region. The FEMA money will support property acquisitions related to that event rather than mandatory removals.

Participation in the buyout program is voluntary. For owners of eligible flood-damaged properties, the program could provide an option to leave locations affected by the disaster while allowing the city to pursue a lower-risk pattern of future land use.

A related recovery account referenced more than 247 flood-damaged properties in connection with the disaster. That figure describes the broader recovery context and is not a count of approved buyouts.

FEMA’s award information does not identify which addresses will be acquired, how many owners have accepted buyout offers or when property closings will occur. The information also does not state the precise division between federal funding and any local or state matching funds.

City has participated in recovery applications

Hawarden’s local government has been involved in seeking flood-recovery assistance. City agenda materials dated May 13, 2026, show the Hawarden Economic Development Authority’s application activity for CDBG-DR Flood ’24 funding.

The FEMA award is part of a broader round of disaster-recovery assistance for Northwest Iowa communities. Regional reporting identified Hawarden among the communities receiving FEMA funds for recovery work.

What happens next

The city’s work will include identifying properties that meet program requirements, communicating with interested owners and completing any approved acquisitions. Because the program is voluntary, the number of properties ultimately acquired will depend on eligible owners who choose to participate and on the acquisition process.

For residents whose homes or other properties were damaged, the funding creates a potential recovery option beyond repairing a structure in place. For Hawarden, acquiring eligible properties can support the city’s stated mitigation goal by reducing the number of repeatedly vulnerable properties exposed to future flooding.

The nearly $1 million award does not establish that every property affected in June 2024 will be included. It gives Hawarden federal assistance to begin or advance a buyout effort tied to the disaster and to incorporate future flood-risk reduction into the recovery process.