IMPACT OF THE 2020 DERECHO CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
2 |
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
On August 10, 2020 with very little time to prepare, a Derecho hit the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, bringing wind speeds of 140 mph and causing widespread devastation throughout our community. The unprecedented straight-line windstorm damaged every corner of our 75 square mile city, and impacted every resident in some way. When the storm passed and people came outside, they saw beloved trees laying across lawns and streets, homes that were devastated, and neighborhoods that were unrecognizable. In the midst of an already difficult year, Cedar Rapidians did what they knew how to do — the thing they do best when times are tough — they worked together; they helped their neighbors; they began to recover. While the storm was overwhelming and life changing for many, it also reinforced the resilient nature of the people who live here. Experiencing devastating and record-breaking flood events in 2008 and 2016, this city knows hardship. But its citizens are perpetually determined to make their community, and the lives of their neighbors, better than before. As our community continues to rebuild and recover, this natural disaster proves once again that Cedar Rapids is a compassionate, strong and resilient community. Sincerely, Brad Hart, Mayor
Jeff Pomeranz, City Manager
| 3
The Storm The term derecho was unknown to most everyone in Cedar Rapids until August 10, 2020, when we were faced with one head on. The Midwest is known for flooding and tornadoes, but no one anticipated a fast moving hurricane-like storm with straight-line winds of up to 140 miles per hour lasting over 45 minutes.
When the unprecedented storm passed and people came outside, they saw decades old trees that once lined their streets and yards destroyed and completely uprooted.
What had taken generations to grow, toppled in minutes. An estimated 670,000 trees were damaged and destroyed — more than 65 percent of the city’s tree canopy.
4 |
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
Homes and businesses throughout the city were devastated. The entire community was without power for a week or more. Every traffic signal in the city sustained some level of damage. The storm also severely limited communication, as damage to local towers caused widespread outages of cellular and internet service.
Damage from the derecho reached all 74 square miles of Cedar Rapids, making it more devastating than the Flood of 2008.
| 5
The Response
City crews began clearing roadways immediately to make way for emergency vehicles. Fire and Police departments responded to record shattering numbers of calls for service.
6 |
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
Emergency shelters, neighborhood resource centers, and food distribution sites were established. Informational flyers were distributed at local grocery, home improvement stores and throughout the community.
Within 48 hours of the storm, 111 truckloads of debris were hauled. Within 15 days of the storm, 195 traffic and pedestrian signals were operational. Alliant Energy crews were joined by crews from across the country and Canada, along with the Iowa National Guard, to form a team of over 2,000 people during the restoration process. The City received assistance from more than 25 municipalities and private contractors.
Cedar Rapidians worked together clearing streets, tarping roofs, cleaning yards, and taking care of their family, friends, neighbors and strangers.
| 7
THE RESPONSE:
By the Numbers The Joint Communications Center fielded 962 emergency and non-emergency calls from 1-2 p.m. on August 10. The highest number of calls in one hour in 2019 was 70 calls.
The Fire Department responded to 535 calls
on August 10 from 12:30 p.m. to Midnight. The Fire Department averages 37 calls a day.
Police officers conducted 373 welfare checks between August 10-16. Most of these were to check on the welfare of individuals that loved ones could not make contact with following the derecho.
City crews began clearing roadways immediately after the storm to make way for emergency vehicles.
Police officers responded to 688 calls for service on August 10. The average number of calls per day for the two weeks prior was 368 calls.
Emergency shelters were established at Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Palo Community Shelter.
Stations for charging medical devices and cell phones, and free wifi access were established at several locations throughout the city.
Within 48 hours of the storm, 111 truckloads of tree debris were hauled.
8 |
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
5 Neighborhood Resource Centers (NRCs) were staffed by 15 organizations for 140 hours, offering services from crisis counseling, legal support, and more.
The Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank delivered
3,000 diapers every day for distribution at
the NRCs, for a total of 60,000 donated diapers.
70,360 hot meals were served over 10 days
through the City’s partnership with Operation BBQ Relief.
2 truckloads of ice
were given out the first week NRCs were open.
Public trees were trimmed for hazardous limbs, then assessed for further trimming or removal.
200 tons of food
were provided by HACAP and distributed through the NRCs.
Within 15 days of the storm, 195 traffic and pedestrian signals were operational.
The City contracted with high volume debris hauler Flannery Trucking, LLC. After 10 months, approximately
4 million cubic yards of tree debris was collected from the public right-of-way.
Crews picked up over 4,000 tons of non-tree storm debris, including siding, shingles, damaged fences and sheds, etc.
In the week following the storm, garbage crews tipped 1,070 tons of regular weekly customer garbage at the landfill as residents emptied their refrigerators of spoiled food. That is approximately 2.5 times the average for the same time period the previous year.
On August 18, 2020, Mayor Hart met with President Trump and requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. This was the largest disaster recovery effort in city history. | 9
The Recovery Clean up efforts began immediately and lasted months because of the sheer volume.
Ten months later, approximately 4 million cubic yards of tree debris were hauled from public right-of-way. Jamey Flannery, president of the hauling company said it was the worst their company had seen, including in Louisiana after hurricane Katrina.
10 |
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
Other recovery efforts will take much longer. There are still homes and structures awaiting repair, as demand for services skyrocketed after the storm. Regrowth of trees will take decades, but the City has made replanting and restoring the tree canopy a priority.
ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is a public and private collaborative effort to develop a comprehensive plan and fundraising effort for reforestation over the next 10 years.
While the storm was overwhelming and life-changing for many, it also reinforced the
resilient nature of the people who live here. This city may know hardship, but its citizens and leaders are perpetually determined to make their community better than before.
| 11
12 |
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
www.cedar-rapids.org