Cedar Rapids businesses experienced at least $133.4 million in losses due to the Aug. 10 derecho, according to a new estimate. The estimate is based on information gathered by a questionnaire the city launched in mid-August. The goal of the questionnaire was to get an idea of how businesses were impacted, the city’s economic development […]
Derecho
Posted inCommunity/News
The derecho destroyed one-fourth of the trees in Iowa’s forests
The Aug. 10 derecho destroyed approximately a quarter of the trees in Iowa’s forests, according to Pete Hildreth, administrator of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Conservation and Recreation Division. Hildreth told the Natural Resource Commission during its Thursday meeting that the hurricane-force winds of the storm felled or irreparably damaged 724,000 acres of trees […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids organizations announce effort to help residents repair derecho-damaged homes before winter
Cedar Rapids organizations have joined to form a new program aimed at helping homeowners who still have damaged homes after the Aug. 10 derecho. Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners — or PATCH — is a joint effort between United Way of East Central Iowa, Alliant Energy Foundation and the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation (GCRCF). […]
Posted inCommunity/News
What’s next for Cedar Rapids? City council members talk through priorities for 2021
The Cedar Rapids City Council met virtually on Tuesday for a special session focused on key priorities for the upcoming year. “This is a great opportunity for the city council members, the mayor and staff to talk about priorities, and it’s particularly opportune with some of the challenges that we’ve certainly seen this year, whether […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album review: Various artists, ‘New Roots Grow — A Benefit Compilation For The CRANDIC Corridor Derecho Storm Recovery’
NEW ROOTS GROW: A Benefit Compilation For The CRANDIC Corridor Derecho Storm Recovery by Money Tapes I didn’t realize how much of what I’ve come to know as the Cedar Rapids area was about the trees. After the Aug. 10 derecho event cost the area an estimated 65% of its tree canopy cover, I have […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Derecho recovery will cost Cedar Rapids at least $60 million
The derecho that hit Cedar Rapids on Aug. 10 caused $60 million to $80 million worth of damage, according to the city. Overall, the August derecho caused $7.5 billion worth of damage, according to estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Washington Post reported that no thunderstorm or tornado has caused “as much […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Derecho recovery: Cedar Rapids to begin tree replanting with an Arbor Day event in October
The city of Cedar Rapids announced three events in the coming weeks aimed at replacing its lost tree canopy. The city lost about 65 percent of its trees after the Aug. 10 derecho. The first is an Arbor Day celebration on Friday at Cedar River Academy at Taylor Elementary. The celebration is usually in April […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City closing its temporary storm debris disposal site
Iowa City is closing its temporary yard debris disposal site in the lot next to the Iowa City Transit facilities at 1200 S. Riverside Drive. The site will shut down at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Iowa City Resource Management said in a statement on Wednesday morning. The site opened on Aug. 15 to provide residents […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Mount Mercy University adjusts to fall semester shaped by the derecho, COVID-19 and its president resigning
Students and faculty at Mount Mercy University (MMU) in Cedar Rapids are adjusting to a new normal this fall semester. When students began their semester in early September — whether that was through online or hybrid instruction — the campus was already dealing the impacts of the Aug. 10 derecho and the COVID-19 pandemic. Two […]
Posted inCommunity/News
NCSML recovers from derecho losses, prepares a new vision for BrewNost
Since 1974 the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids has been a tourist attraction and center for education as the cornerstone of the Czech Village neighborhood. Through cooking classes, crafts lessons and events like the popular annual BrewNost international beer festival, the museum has offered a sense of connection with the […]
Posted inCommunity/News, COVID-19
Derecho relief: Survey asks Linn County residents about their needs; FEMA is closing Cedar Rapids center
Linn County agencies have created a questionnaire to identify what residents still need in the aftermath of the Aug. 10 derecho. County residents impacted by the derecho are encouraged to complete the questionnaire. Linn County Public Health, HACAP and Waypoint partnered with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to create the assessment. The information provided […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Derecho recovery: Boxes of free, fresh produce available in Cedar Rapids on Saturday
People impacted by the Aug. 10 derecho can pick up fresh produce, dairy and frozen meat at a drive-through event on Saturday. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and run through 3 p.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church, 50 Edgewood Rd NW, in Cedar Rapids. Individuals driving up should enter the parking lot from […]
