A week after a derecho wreaked havoc on Iowa, almost 40 percent of Linn County residents are still without electricity. Linn County was one of the areas in the state hit hardest by the storm. A total of 41,104 customers — 36.7 percent — are without power in the county, as of Monday at noon. […]
Derecho
Posted inCommunity/News
President Trump said he approved federal disaster aid for Iowa
Update: During her Monday afternoon news conference, Gov. Reynolds said President Trump will visit Iowa on Tuesday. President Trump said on Monday morning he’d approved a federal major disaster declaration for Iowa counties affected by the derecho that struck the state one week ago. “I’ve just approved an emergency declaration for Iowa who had an […]
Posted inCommunity/News
ICPL Bookmobile will help people fill out forms for food replacement assistance
Families currently enrolled in the state’s food assistance program can apply to the Iowa Department of Human Services for help covering the cost of replacing food spoiled by damage from the Aug. 10 derecho. Applications must be submitted within 10 days of a member of the household discovering the food is spoiled or damaged. To […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Cedar Rapids is setting up neighborhood resource centers; bus service will resume on Monday
Cedar Rapids is setting up five neighborhood resource centers to create central locations where residents can get information about services and food. • Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd SW • Northwest Recreation Center parking lot, 1340 11th St NW • St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 1340 3rd Ave SE • ROC Center, 1202 10th St SE […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Cedar Rapids’ identity
Chad Cooper, Cedar Rapids A howling came through my city, and it was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. In Cedar Rapids, everyone is now intimately familiar with a derecho. The storm visited town over lunch on a Monday, bringing hurricane-force winds (100+ mph) and leaving devastation as a parting gift. A couple hundred thousand without […]
Posted inCommunity/News
From hot showers to baby supplies, a local grassroots group is compiling post-storm resources and volunteer opportunities online
North Liberty is opening its Community Center to anyone in need of a place to charge their electronic devices or a hot shower. The center at 520 W Cherry St will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Outlets for charging phones, laptops and other small electronic devices will be […]
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Shelter, internet and tree debris disposal locations announced in Cedar Rapids
Additional resources for Cedar Rapids residents who need shelter, internet access or to dispose of tree debris have been announced. The Linn County Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross and the city of Cedar Rapids opened a shelter at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 50 2nd Avenue Bridge. The shelter opened at 8 p.m. on Friday. “Individuals […]
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Food and water pick-up locations in Cedar Rapids, Marion this weekend
Below are publicly announced events where food and water will be distributed on Saturday and Sunday. Ongoing Linn County Emergency Management Agency announced three locations in Linn County that will have food, water and ice. Starting Saturday, the locations will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The drive-through assistance locations are located […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City opens a site for residents to drop off downed branches and spoiled food
As city crews focus on clearing storm debris from streets and rights-of-way, the Iowa City Division of Resource Management is offering a new option for people wanting to remove the debris from their yards. Starting on Saturday, Iowa City residents will be able to take tree limbs and other yard debris to the lot south […]
Posted inCommunity/News
North Liberty will open a site to drop off storm debris on Monday
North Liberty residents will be able to haul storm debris other than branches and brush to the city public works campus at 437 S Front St. There will be no charge to drop off the debris, but an appointment for a 15-minute time slot to access the site will need to be made at least […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds will apply for federal disaster assistance on Monday
Gov. Kim Reynolds will be submitting an application to the federal government on Monday, asking President Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for storm-damaged areas in Iowa. Reynolds made the announcement during a press conference in Cedar Rapids, one of the cities hit hardest by Monday’s derecho. “The destruction was indescribable,” Reynolds said on […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Green skies, red lightning, hurricane winds: Getting caught in the storm in Cedar Rapids
I am Midwestern, and that means when I hear tornado sirens my instinct is to walk out to my back porch and stare at the sky. Every single one of my neighbors does it, too. I look forward to storm season. I watch Twister at least once a year. I love that feeling when the […]
