A Back to Business Workshop sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and Safeguard Iowa will be held today, June 26, from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. The Workshop has been developed to provide information and resources to assist businesses impacted by the floods. Experts and professionals will provide discuss such topics as funding, insurance, doing business with contractors, information for impacted employees, safety and health considerations, rebuilding; avoiding scams and preparing for the future.

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Iowa’s rural communities are making some major decisions in the wake of both hurricanes and flooding that have ravaged its lands over the last month. The state has had over 80 of its counties declared disaster areas by the governor which translates to 83 percent of the state. Within these counties roughly 71 percent of the towns have populations of less than 1,000. That means that this sequential hit of hurricane and flooding has nearly annihilated some of the states most picturesque and historic towns.

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The Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency reported that a one day total of flood related waste picked up last week was nearly 900 tons. That was in addition to the 500-600 tons of garbage the service picks up on a regular day. The measurement was taken on Wednesday, June 18, twenty-two days after Iowa was first declared a major disaster area. Since then, 70 counties have been included in the disaster recovery programs set-up by the federal and state governments after flooding ravaged the state and took it to a virtual stand-still.

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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.

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