Disaster Recovery News

Cedar Rapids, Iowa is still trying to pick up the pieces after a devastating flood eight months ago invaded the city.The Wall Street Journal reports: “About 10 square miles of flood-wrecked neighborhoods are largely abandoned, with thousands of boarded-up houses and businesses lining debris-dotted streets. A steam and electricity generating station that served some of the city’s biggest employers is still inoperable. More than 300 municipal buildings are in need of repair, along with roads and bridges.”

To add to the stresses of restoring and rebuilding the city of Cedar Rapids and the lives affected, there are growing worries about the drooping economy causing another crisis for the area. Although the unemployment rate is below the national average at 4.6% in the area, job losses are eminent for the area.

City leaders have expressed there has not been enough assistance provided to rebuild resident dwellings such as apartments and houses. Russ Edmonston with FEMA stated: “It is going to take a long while to get a sense of normalcy for the people of Cedar Rapids, and we’ll be here to shoulder those burdens.” Nonetheless, residents of Cedar Rapids are finding it harder and harder to cope.

More on flood restoration.

Before a flood, learn what business can do to prepare for flood water damage and how to recover from it.

On July 11, the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce announced the creation of an Adopt-A-Business Program aimed at providing flood damaged businesses a partner in their property and document recovery efforts. The participants will be given the practical and moral support needed as they start to rebuild and restore. Any individual or group not directly affected by the flood can choose to adopt a flood damaged business preparing to rebuild again in Cedar Rapids. There are no strict guidelines for participation. The paired businesses can decide how much involvement is needed or desired. Businesses have a lot to deal with when recoverying from a flood disaster. Things like working with a document restoration service, rebuilding structures, cleaning mold damage and putting in place flood prevention tactics for the future are all things that the business mentor can assist with.

To adopt a business or to sign up to get an adopting business contact Kelly Slaughter at the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce at kslaughter@cedarrapids.org or 730-1417.

Cedar Rapid residents are quickly trying to assess the flood damage to their home this week as the water recedes and relative safety has been established. Families with children, however, are strongly encouraged to refrain from taking their children to the flood damaged homes or businesses to aid with flood clean up and restoration. The mold, bacteria and decay caused by flood waters is extremely high in these places and can be highly toxic for children to breath.

In order to make it possible for parents to keep their children out of such dangerously unhealthy places, Linn County, HACAP, the United Way and area churches have joined together to create two emergency child care centers. These free centers open today, Tuesday, June 24th and will run from 10am – 4pm. Children ages 12 and younger are welcome at the facilities but parents should note that there is limited capacity. The child care centers are located at:

Cedar Rapids First Assembly of God Church
3233 Blairs Ferry Road N.E., Cedar Rapids

New Covenant Bible Church
1800 46th St. N.E., Cedar Rapids

Volunteers and Donations (money as well as supplies) are needed in order to keep these centers open throughout the flood recovery and restoration process. If you are interested you are encouraged to call the centers at call 319/395-0021, extension 239.

Information courtesy of Corridor Recovery.