The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- After the dam break at Lake Delhi in Iowa, residents are scrambling for help.

On Saturday the damn in Delaware County broke causing massive flooding.  Many of those residents were caught without flood insurance. 

KTVO spoke with Wapello County engineer Brian Moore about the differences between flood insurance and disaster relief funds.

“Disaster relief, either from the local state or federal government, is a program set up once the disaster happens,” said Moore. 

The Wapello County ordinance states that homes and businesses in certain areas must have flood insurance.  The flooding in 2008 has not altered the flood plain ordinance.

“Any new construction or building that takes place in that area [have] some requirements for height of new buildings.  We're responsible for maintaining that and enforcing that ordinance so that the residents can maintain their flood insurance."    

Moore added that new maps that the county will receive near October will help update their information on record about the Des Moines River.