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The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division expressed doubt Tuesday that it could provide assistance following the Postville City Council's declaration of the town as a humanitarian and economic disaster area.

Disaster declarations are based on natural emergencies, "so I don't know how that would qualify," said division spokesman Bret Voorhees.

The resolution, passed unanimously by the council Monday night, was sent to state officials Tuesday in an effort to secure financial assistance for the community devastated after a May 12 federal immigration raid that led to the recent closing of town's leading employer, kosher meatpacker Agriprocessors Inc.

Voorhees acknowledged the community is "certainly facing economic stress," and said the division will review Postville's request.

"But it would appear they would not be eligible for our assistance," he said.

Chris Dahlstrom, emergency management coordinator for Allamakee County, said he received confirmation Tuesday that the state had received the resolution, which he described as non-specific.

Dahlstrom said he's not sure what state approval of the request would mean. "We're hoping for grant money. Whatever help the state will give us, we'll take," he said.

City Clerk-Administrator Darcy Radloff said community relief efforts have been consolidated at the city's Turner Hall, which opened Tuesday as a one-stop center for residents in need of food, clothing and assistance with rent, utilities, employment and transportation.

Radloff said the city was notified Friday that it had been awarded a $698,000 state grant to help pay for rent and utilities for families who've lost jobs because of the Agriprocessors closing.

The grant will be administered through Northeast Iowa Community Action Program, and funds should be available in about a week, Radloff said.

The Rev. Steve Brackett, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, said the grant funds will not be available to about 70 undocumented former Agriprocessors workers who were either detained in the country as material witnesses in upcoming court proceedings or recently released after serving prison terms.

The burden of their care remains with St. Bridget Catholic Church's Hispanic ministry, he said.

Brackett said the city's disaster declaration is appropriate.

"A raid executed by a U.S. government entity caused collateral damage that the people of northeast Iowa are having to deal with without any help from those who caused the damage," he said.

Brackett said the opening of the city's Turner Hall as a relief center provides a neutral site that will be a comfortable setting for people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Jeff Abbas, manager of Postville radio station KPVL, a leader in the volunteer relief effort under way at the Postville Multicultural Center, also welcomed the city's efforts but worried they will lack the "friendly ears and smiling faces" that have greeted displaced workers at the center during the past 10 days.

Postville resident Maryn Olson, who represented St. Bridget Catholic Church at a meeting Tuesday morning of a Postville relief coalition made up of religious institutions, community volunteers, city government and the Allamakee County Emergency Management Department, said formation of the coalition "is a really big step for everyone to acknowledge we do have a problem here."

By Orlan Love, The Gazette