JOHNSTON, Iowa (KCAU) Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds held a press conference Sunday afternoon to address the ongoing flooding emergency in northwest Iowa.

Speaking at the State Emergency Operations Center in Johnston, Reynolds was surrounded by members of her cabinet as she started the press conference by bringing up how Iowa recently got out of drought conditions.

“After 4 years of drought, the state has experienced unusually heavy rainfall this spring. And beginning on Friday, some areas up in the northwest Iowa… got up to 15 inches of rain over two days,” she said.

After issuing a disaster emergency proclamation for just Sioux County Saturday morning, Reynolds said she direct the Iowa National Guard and Urban Search and Rescue teams to assist in recovery efforts.

Reynolds also requested assistance through in an Emergency Management Assistance Compact out to member states. It was through that compact that Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen authorized the use of a military helicopter and a crew.

Reynolds later Saturday morning extended the disaster proclamations. She added Palo Alto County to the list of affected counties Sunday morning and said that she anticipates to add more as waters move downstream.

She said that for just Saturday, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducted 250 water rescues.

Reynolds added that she saw the widespread devastation caused by the flooding.

“I can tell you, the devastation is severe and it’s widespread. In almost every community impacted, the rivers crested several feet above record levels from the floods of 1993,” Reynolds said. “In fact, we had 16 flood gauges that historic levels.”

Watch a replay of the press conference. The story continues below.

Reynolds said it is early but that the projected damage is staggering. Officials estimate 1,900 properties were impacted and hundreds were destroyed. Agricultural property, businesses, community centers and more properties were also impacted. Additionally, more than 1,000 people have been sheltered.

As of Saturday night, the DNR recorded 10 water systems and 21 wastewater systems were affected by the flooding.

“It’s not over yet. As the flood water begins to recede in the far northern communities,” Reynolds said. “We’re already seeing them crest, they’re starting to come down, but that water will head downstream and areas to the south are planning for rivers to crest at record levels.”

She also said that weather forecast show rainfall later this week.

Reynolds said she spoke with the regional FEMA administrator. She also submitted a request for an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration. In it, she is asking for FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program, and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans for the following 9 counties: Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth and Sioux. She is also asking for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program for the following 22 counties: Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth and Wright.

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jon Benson also spoke.

“My division and the department are focused on what we can to support the citizens,” Benson said. “This is, as the governor correctly noted, this is a very serious flood we are in right now. And it is not going to cease; it is going to blossom across the state.”

Benson said that they are working to make sure that resources are being moved across the state as needed, moving medicine , cots, food and more.

He added that the department is working to coordinate with local officials to set up a proper system to handle donations and volunteer requests. He said that the website disasterrecovery.iowa.gov was set up for those affected by the spring tornadoes and severe storms and it will be updated for the ongoing flooding in the coming days.

He asked that people don’t donate a truck of items as it could make things worse. He said that sometimes it is best to donate just cash.