Disaster Recovery News

Appanoose, Clarke, Monroe and Ringgold counties have been added to the May 27 disaster declaration made by the federal government. County residents are now eligible for Individual Assistance while Clarke and Wayne county governments and organizations are also now eligible for Public Assistance to aid in the repair and recovery of infrastructures. These new additions to the federal disaster list bring the total number of Iowa counties affected by the flooding to 82.

Residents and business owners in these added counties are encouraged to contact the FEMA helpline ASAP by phone (800.621.3362) or online at www.fema.gov.

For more on the Individual Assistance now available to these four additional counties and what you need to do to get help, visit FEMA.Gov.

Residents in Iowa who have had their homes and belongings damaged by the June flooding know that the recovery of their stuff is heart-wrenching, difficult and frustrating. FEMA has worked with restoration experts on a list of tips to consider when trying to recover water-damaged valuables. Photograhs, letters and important documents are not necessarily lost forever. With some care and quick work, many of these things can be kept.

Below is just a sample of some of the advice provided by FEMA with the aid of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and the National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property. You can read all 10 tips at FEMA.gov.

Documents, books and works of art on paper may be extremely fragile when wet. Free the edges of prints and paper objects in mats and frames if possible, then air-dry. The key to drying is air circulation. Avoid direct sunlight. Soaked books and papers should be air-dried or kept in a refrigerator or freezer until a professional conservator can treat them.

Wet photographs and negatives stuck together should never be pulled apart. Soak them in clean water until they separate on their own. Rinse again in fresh clean water. Do not touch the wet surface. Air dry on a clean, smooth surface. Avoid drying the photos in direct sunlight as splitting, warping or fading of the photos could happen. Photographs may curl during drying, but they can be flattened later. If a freezer is available, freeze the photos immediately after rinsing them. Seal several photos at a time in plastic bags with a tie or a Zip-Lock type plastic bag. If possible, place wax paper between each individual photo to prevent sticking. Later, photos may be separated and air dried.

Photo courtesy of NYDailyNews.com, Olson/Getty

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.

The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation along with several other community partners have formed the Job & Small Business Recovery Fund to provide financial assistance to for-profit businesses in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that have suffered from flood damage that was not insured. The funds donated to this cause will be used to provide grants and zero percent interest loans to small businesses that need it the most right now. It is estimated that over 600 businesses were impacted by the June Iowa floods.

Businesses that qualify may receive a base grant of up to $15,000. Fifty percent of the base money awarded will be in the form of a grant and fifty percent will be in the form of a no interest, three-year forgivable loan. Additionally, a grant of up to $5,000 may be awarded to businesses that choose to reinvest in commercial zones affected by the flood in Cedar Rapids; and an additional grant of up to $5,000 can be awarded to those who are both business and property owners and have sustained uninsured physical damage to each.

Donations can be made to the Job & Small Business Recovery Fund online at www.gcrcf.org or by sending donations to Business Recovery Fund, c/o The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, 200 First Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

If you are a small business that would like to apply for a grand from the fund, visit http://www.corridorrecovery.org.

From the Tide® laundry detergent Press Release

Dedicated to bringing “loads of hope” to the families affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the wildfires in Southern California, Tide® laundry detergent has dispatched the Tide CleanStart™ Mobile Laundry truck to help those affected by the recent flooding in Iowa.

Tide® has partnered once again with relief organization America’s Second Harvest-The Nation’s Food Bank Network (ASH) – to bring the Tide CleanStart truck to the city of Waterloo in Black Hawk County, IA. The Tide CleanStart truck is currently operating in Black Hawk County where the flood recently destroyed thousands of homes, leaving many without shelter and basic needs like clean clothes. Waterloo is centrally located to best accommodate the residents of nearby neighborhoods hardest hit by the flood. Families affected are able to drop off their laundry to be washed, dried and folded by the Tide CleanStart team, free of charge.

Read the complete press release