Since 2020, the IHERF Disaster Relief Fund has contributed to hospital employees affected by natural disasters. Hospitals are asked to report the number of employees displaced from their homes because of a natural disaster. IHERF approves the funds, and the hospitals determine the distribution of funds to affected employees.

The IHERF Disaster Relief Fund has contributed:

• $120,000 ($1,000 to each hospital’s employee assistance fund) during the COVID-19 pandemic
• $156,500 for natural disaster relief
• $100,000 divided among eight regional Iowa food banks to address food insecurity because of the COVID-19 pandemic
• $75,000 to Iowa hospitals and $16,500 to Iowa hospital employees for relief from the 2020 derecho
• $50,000 to Iowa hospital employees for tornado relief
• $15,000 to Iowa hospital employees for flood relief

IHERF Disaster Relief Fund Form

Guidelines for members seeking hospital employee disaster relief funds:

• A “disaster” is defined as a natural disaster (weather-related).
• Affected hospital employee(s) must be displaced from their homes for at least two weeks.
• Member hospital (IHA Institutional Type 1 dues-paying) requests must be submitted on the IHERF Disaster Funds Request form and signed off by the CEO/administrator of the member hospital.
• IHERF funds will be processed and distributed to member hospitals to help employees with immediate needs. Member hospitals will then distribute funds to employee(s). IHERF will provide up to $1,000 per affected employee.
• IHERF does not request or maintain records of the names of affected member hospital employees.
• Member hospitals receiving funds can reference the overall IHERF support provided in their communities.

Contribute to IHERF