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WEATHERING THE STORM
Cedar Rapids stories of perseverance & recovery
NOVEMBER 2020 FROM THE CITY MANAGER • SPECIAL SECTION • DIRECTORIES •
FROM THE
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On August 10, with very little time to prepare, the City of Cedar
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WINTER PLAY! GUIDE •
CITY MANAGER
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Rapids was hit with a derecho, bringing wind speeds of well over 100
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mph and causing widespread devastation throughout our community. During and immediately after the storm, City crews began responding to emergency needs, including clearing debris from roads for residents and emergency vehicles, responding to emergency calls, and
On the cover: More than 65 percent of trees in Cedar Rapids were estimated to be impacted by the storm’s high winds.
more. However, the City was not responding alone. We are extremely appreciative of the assistance we received from many, including other cities like Waterloo, Dubuque, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Cedar Falls, North Liberty, and Fairfield. Iowa cities offered search and rescue, trucks and crews, generators for traffic signals, streets equipment, park cleanup help, use of facilities, staff
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to perform building assessments, and more. Private contractors, the
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Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Iowa National Guard also provided valuable assistance. And local non-profits, businesses, and residents stepped up to provide food, shelter, necessities, and help with putting tarps on homes and clearing debris from private property. We have more to do, but much has been accomplished. I want to assure the residents of Cedar Rapids that work continues, and will continue until the cleanup is complete throughout the city. We won’t stop advocating to get Cedar Rapids residents and businesses the support you need to recover from this disaster. I would like to thank the Cedar Rapids community for your support and patience during this challenging time. We continue to hear stories about people stepping up to help friends, family, neighbors, and strangers, as well as how positive and supportive our residents are to
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the out-of-town and out-of-state workers. From an extremely difficult and trying situation, these are the stories that keep us going. Thank you for showing the best of Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids is a strong and resilient community, and I am confident we will get through this together.
Jeffrey Pomeranz Cedar Rapids City Manager
T
he term derecho was unknown to many in Cedar Rapids just a few months ago. Then, what was predicted to be an afternoon of typical Iowa thunderstorms became an intense, fast-moving land
hurricane that damaged every corner of the community and touched 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. This city may know hardship, but its citizens are perpetually determined to make their community, and the lives of their neighbors, better than before. Your local government and its employees are just as determined. This issue gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of the response into the beginning stages to rebuild Cedar Rapids.
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3
THE STORM
THE RESPONSE
On Monday, August 10 a severe weather event called a Derecho hit the Midwest, bringing straight line winds between 90-140 mph through Cedar Rapids.
9-1-1
The Joint Communications Center fielded 962 emergency and nonemergency calls from 1-2 p.m. on August 10. The highest number of calls in one hour in 2019 was 70 calls.
With only 2 hours warning, Cedar Rapids was battered with rain and high winds for 45 minutes.
The intensity, duration, and widespread path of the storm make it comparable to a category 4 hurricane.
Damage from the derecho reached all 74 square miles of the city, making it more
The Fire Department responded to 535 calls
devastating than the Flood of 2008, the worst disaster in Cedar Rapids’ history.
on August 10 from 12:30 p.m. to Midnight. The Fire Department averages 37 calls a day.
Police officers responded to 688 calls for service on
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the storm caused $7.5 billion in damage
between South Dakota and Ohio, ranking it as the most costly thunderstorm in U.S. history.
August 10. The average number of calls per day for the two weeks prior was 368 calls.
THE IMPACT The power grid sustained unprecedented damage. Alliant Energy and Linn County REC reported all Cedar Rapids customers were without power immediately after the storm. Traffic signals, roadway signage, and other critical services were down. The City’s water and wastewater treatment plants, police and fire stations, and local hospitals relied on generator power to maintain operation.
Residents and businesses experienced widespread cell phone
service and internet outages throughout the community.
Nearly every one of the
Cedar Rapids’ wealth of large, mature trees were especially susceptible to wind damage.
50,839 residential
properties and 3,514 commercial and industrial properties in
An estimated 65% of the tree canopy was destroyed.
the city sustained damage.
Approximately 64% of waterways were blocked
or had the potential for being blocked by debris following the storm, with the potential to contribute to flash flooding.
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Most roadways in Cedar Rapids were blocked by debris and traffic on I-380 was halted when semitrailer trucks were overturned.
All 97 city parks sustained damage with close to 70% of parks
0 days without water. Customers
experiencing significant damage requiring a contracted service to remove hazardous trees and debris. An estimated 75%
had continuous water and sewer service following the storm.
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Every traffic signal sustained some level of damage.
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.
Within 48 hours of the storm, 111 truckloads
City crews began clearing roadways immediately after the storm to make way for emergency vehicles.
Emergency shelters were established at Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Palo Community Shelter.
5 Neighborhood Resource Centers (NRCs) were staffed by 15 organizations for 140 hours, offering services from crisis
Within 15 days of storm,
195 traffic and pedestrian signals were operational.
The City received cleanup and infrastructure assistance from
more than 25
municipalities and private contractors.
2 truckloads of ice given out
In the week following the storm, garbage crews tipped 1,070 tons of regular weekly customer garbage at the landfill. That is approximately 2.5 times the average for the same time period the previous year. Most of this garbage was collected by hand, as customers placed bags of spoiled food at the curb.
during first week NRCs were open.
The Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank delivered 3,000
were provided by HACAP and distributed through the NRCs.
were hauled.
Stations for charging medical devices and cell phones, and free wifi access were established at several locations throughout the city.
counseling, legal support, and more.
200 tons of food
of tree debris
diapers every day
The Iowa Department of Transportation provided personnel, end loaders, and trucks that helped remove debris that blocked roads and neighborhoods.
for distribution at the NRCs, for a total of 60,000 donated diapers.
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 Iowa Department of Transportation hauled approximately 19,000 truckloads of debris, for an estimated 170,000 cubic yards.
Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management determined that the
Iowa National Guard would be the best resource to address the mission specific task of getting power restored. Some utility work was delayed because debris needed to be removed. The National Guard had assets that accelerated this mission.
The National Guard arrived on August 13 to help clear critical infrastructure for electrical power restoration.
In addition, several hundred workers focused solely on tree trimming and brush removal.
THE RECOVERY Largest disaster recovery effort in city history. On August 18, 2020, Mayor Hart met with President Trump and requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. While the Iowa Disaster Assistance Program would have helped provide up to $5,000 to help families whose household income is at 200% or less of the federal poverty level, the Individual Assistance Program does not have an income restriction.
The City contracted with high volume debris hauler Flannery Trucking, LLC. As of November 4,
2.7 million cubic yards of tree debris hauled (about 50 times as big as the Capitol Rotunda).
Jamey Flannery, president of Flannery Trucking, LLC, reveals the volume of tree debris in Cedar Rapids was worse than
their company saw in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG
Storm debris pickup continues for tree and all storm debris, including siding, shingles, damaged fences and sheds, etc.
Public trees are being trimmed for hazardous limbs, assessed for further trimming or removal.
ReLeaf Cedar Rapids
plan is being developed to replenish the city’s tree canopy over the next 10 years.
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WEATHERING THE STORM
STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINES First responders and City staff share their accounts of the disaster.
HEIDI D’ARCY
Dispatcher II, Joint Communications Agency
A few minutes before an official warning is issued by the National Weather Service, dispatchers can hear the meteorologist preparing for the broadcast alert. “He sounded flustered and said to take shelter immediately. Three minutes before the derecho hit, we knew it was going to be serious,” Heidi D’Arcy recalls as she was working on the third floor of the Police Station in the City’s Joint Communications Agency.
Three minutes before the derecho hit, we knew it was going to be serious.” It was a day like no other for D’Arcy, who has been a telecommunicator for over ten years. As the floor was vibrating and the windows were bowing, dispatchers remained calm and attempted to answer as many 911 calls as possible. At one time, over 250 fire calls were stacked up waiting for first responders to be dispatched. D’Arcy’s first storm-related call was a semi-truck driver who was on U.S. Interstate 380 northbound near Diagonal Drive who was concerned for his safety as winds were increasing and wanted to know if he could get help locating a place to park. D’Arcy subsequently directed him to Valor Way SW, where he safely remained during the storm. “One of my most memorable calls was a girl babysitting her little brother. They had gone to a storm shelter but the lock on the outside door broke because of the strong winds. I used our dispatch tornado protocol and instructed the children to grab pillows and blankets, and get into the bathtub in the interior of the home to stay safe. The young girl did such a good job with the directions, even though I knew they had to be really scared at home alone.” It would not be until 12:30 a.m. the next day that fire and police calls were no longer stacked up waiting for first responders to be dispatched. D’Arcy said, “We did the best that we could given the situation.” She is proud of her coworkers, even recalling how one dispatcher rode a bike to get to work even though her own house was damaged by the derecho.
OFFICER TYLER RICHARDSON
Police Officer
Police officers were on patrol throughout the city at 12:30 p.m. on August 10 when the derecho impacted the community. Officer Tyler Richardson, a 10-year veteran of the Police Department, was in the 1600 block of Second Avenue SE when power lines and trees started to fall onto the roadway. “There were a lot of big trees in the area and I knew that I needed to get out of there before one fell on my car,” said Richardson. As he drove onto First Avenue past Brucemore, Richardson saw that a tree had fallen onto a car near 20th Street. Despite winds over 100 miles per hour, torrential rainfall, and debris flying throughout the air, he exited his police vehicle to see if anyone needed assistance. He found a woman inside the car. The driver’s side door wouldn’t open, but Richardson was able to open the passenger side door, which was partially blocked by a tree limb. Richardson
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CHRIS HINRICHS & MATT McDOWELL Fire Captain/Paramedic
Firefighter/Paramedic
When dispatchers let Captain Chris Hinrichs and his firefighter crew know that a severe storm would arrive shortly in Cedar Rapids, he anticipated a couple of power lines and trees down, maybe high winds for a few minutes, much like typical summer thunderstorms. However, Hinrichs, an 11-year member of the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, was concerned on that August 10 morning during boat training at how hot it was getting outside. He remembered the morning weather report warned the hotter it was outside, the more likely the storms would be severe. Within minutes, Hinrichs and his crew were traveling west on Mount Vernon Road to a report of a house fire in northwest Cedar Rapids. Hinrichs said, “Garbage was flying through the air and the fire truck was getting smacked by tree debris.” Matt McDowell, a firefighter for 14 years in Cedar Rapids, was driving and recalls, “We thought we were going to be
Everywhere we went, people thought it was just their neighborhood that had heavy damage.” flipped over in the fire engine crossing the Eighth Avenue Bridge. The wind was so strong and we were concerned debris would fly through the windows.” The engine crew was diverted to electrical wires down and then to a gas leak as calls started to stack up and firefighters were getting calls for service in every zip code of the city. McDowell remembers seeing roofs ripped off buildings and structural collapses. Debris was everywhere and firefighters called for Public Works snow plow operators to clear a path. McDowell said, “Everywhere we went, people thought it was just their neighborhood that had heavy damage. Electricity, internet, phones, TV, and social media were out of service. We shared that the whole city looked like this, and some places had even worse devastation.”
MEGAN WICHMANN
Firefighter/EMT
Megan Wichmann was assigned as the Engine 1 driver on August 10. While responding to a house fire, the fire engine had a tree fall into its path in the 700 block of F Avenue NW. Then another tree fell behind the fire engine. The Fire Department’s ladder truck company was following the engine. Two firefighters jumped off the ladder truck with chainsaws to make sure the fire engine crew could continue to the call. Wichmann said it was a pivotal moment in her six years on the Fire Department, “Everyone really stepped up to do what they could to help people.”
recalled, “The air bags had deployed in the vehicle and I was only able to get the door open about a foot, but it was enough for her to get through.” The woman was not injured as the tree had barely missed falling on the front passenger compartment. Richardson drove the woman to the First Avenue Hy-Vee where they both exited the squad car to take shelter inside the store until the storm was over.
Dash camera video footage of Officer Richardson’s rescue is available on the Police Department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cedarrapidspolicedepartment.
Another example of that extraordinary commitment occurred when the fire engine company was in the 3800 block of First Avenue and saw a column of smoke that was determined to be a house engulfed in flames on Lennox Drive NE. An off-duty firefighter was in the area and walked seven blocks because roads were blocked. He helped run the pumps on the fire engine to help support on-duty firefighters because there weren’t as many firefighters on scene as is typically required on a structure fire response.
Everyone really stepped up to do what they could to help people.”
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WEATHERING THE STORM
PUBLIC WORKS –
STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINES
PAT McDONALD
FIRST RESPONDERS
Facilities Project Manager
During the derecho, the Police Department’s generator did not activate, threatening to cause the Police Station to go completely dark within minutes. The Joint Communications Center’s backup batteries had only 45 minutes until their backup power was exhausted, which would have resulted in 911 calls having to be answered by other public safety access points.
It looked like you were driving through a forest.” Street Supervisor Eric O’Rourke was milling with his crew on the morning of August 10 when they started getting reports of severe weather rolling in. The 140-mph windblast tore through the neighborhood, dropping trees across the road in front of and behind the crews’ vehicles, effectively blocking them in. “I didn’t think I was going to make it home; there was just no end in sight,” recalled Eric. “It just kept going and getting stronger.”
The City’s Facilities Project Manager Pat was in and out of Pat McDonald the building, drenched worked through the storm, to the bone.” outside, trying to get the generator to start. Police Chief Wayne Jerman praised McDonald’s commitment, “Pat was in and out of the building, drenched to the bone. He was able to get the generator powered up, which allowed dispatch staff to continue answering 911 calls and dispatching police and fire units.”
DAN GEBERT
As soon as the storm passed, Eric’s team got to work, first clearing debris out of storm drains to reduce street flooding, and then cutting their way out of the neighborhood and back to the City Services Center. “The first thing we did once we got back to the garage was put our crews in plows and start pushing roads open,” said Eric, who credits residents for also lending a hand at clearing the roads during those first days following the storm. Eric’s team, like so many other street maintenance workers that day, needed to immediately switch from paving equipment to snow equipment, using plows to push tree debris off the roadway.
Auto Equipment Mechanic II
Dan Gebert is nicknamed “Crazy Dan,” and the auto equipment mechanic lived up to his billing with ingenuity during the storm. Fire Station 8, located at 100 Wiley Boulevard SW, lost power and the generator was not functioning. Gebert determined the generator engine had the same ignition distributor as his 1996 Chevrolet pickup. The rotor inside the generator distributor had burned up and failed. Gebert put the distributor rotor from his pickup onto the generator. Gebert said, “It’s only about a $13 part. It’s a cheap part, but when it fails, the engine will not run.”
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Our biggest priority was making sure Fire, PD, and ambulance services could get to people,” says Mike Duffy, street operations manager. Mike and his supervisors immediately started dispatching crews to plow open roads. “We didn’t know immediately if it was centralized or across the city, but we quickly realized it was city-wide.” Within hours, the Street Maintenance Division was out, trying to clear roads and cut into neighborhoods. The Iowa Department of Transportation also dispatched crews to Cedar Rapids to assist with clearing and hauling efforts. Tree debris on the roadways proved to be only part of the challenge. Across the entire city, traffic signals were dark and stop signs were blown over, making the situation even more hazardous.
staff had to re-aim every detection camera throughout the city.” Crews were in the field by that evening.
The first thing I thought of was ‘how many signals are down?’” says John Witt, traffic engineering program manager. John’s team of traffic signal technicians and signing crew began the overwhelming process of assessing the damage. Every signalized intersection sustained some level of damage, and there was a deluge of critical roadway signage completely missing. “Traffic signal heads were blown off, pole masts were missing, and some signal poles were completely twisted on their concrete foundation and needed to be replaced,” recalled Witt. “The wind misaligned all our vehicle detection cameras;
While many traffic signals had backup batteries that automatically kicked on, the batteries only ran for the first six to ten hours before dying. Staff quickly dispatched generators to key corridors in an effort to keep signals operational at the most hightraffic intersections. It quickly become obvious, though, that replacing or repairing thousands of damaged roadway signs was going to require additional teams. Multiple surrounding jurisdictions aided Cedar Rapids in the days following the storm. The City’s sign crew installed the equivalent of a year’s worth of signage in the first ten days. Within two weeks, all traffic and pedestrian signals had been repaired or re-energized. “I saw a lot of people stepping up,” said Witt, who credits his team and partner municipalities for their work to address an unprecedented amount of damaged roadway infrastructure. Many staff members in Public Works reported for duty — from dawn to dusk, seven days a week — after the storm, despite having damage at their own properties. “I am proud of the work our staff did in response to this event,” said Mike. “Setting aside damage at their own homes to go and help others is a service this community can be proud of.”
CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG
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WEATHERING THE STORM
STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINES
THOUSANDS OF ARBORISTS
W
hen Cedar Rapids forestry crews know a storm is coming, they typically head back to City Services Center
(CSC) to wait for requests for damaged trees to come in, or go to a spot to wait out the storm and receive instructions over their radios. On August 10, crews knew there were storms in Iowa, but early predictions did not indicate that severe storms would come close to Cedar
indicating that a severe storm was quickly
Rapids. Forestry crews were all on the street,
approaching. They headed towards Twin Pines
taking care of routine work.
Park to wait out the storm and wait for work assignments. Heading down 42nd Street, they
City Arborist Todd Fagan was checking some trees near Bever Park when a tree fell in front of his truck. Another fell behind the truck, and yet another fell on the truck. Blocked and parked in the middle of the road, he waited out the storm. When it passed, he knew he would have to cut his way out to get back to CSC and communicate a work plan to his team. He got his rope and out of his home, saw Fagan, and began to help. Shortly after, more residents gathered in the streets to clear roads where traffic could not
then four pine trees fell at the same time. They drove towards City Services Center, and got as far as Ellis Park. “Stuff was flying at the truck from the left and flying at the truck from the right. I was sure I was in a tornado,” Brown said. “It sounded like someone was beating on at one point Ryan Even could see the roof of my truck being lifted off.” After the storm, they started again to make
move. “There were probably 70,000 to 80,000
their way back. Along Edgewood Road, an
arborists that day. Residents are the ones who
entire row of trees was down in the street.
cleared a lot of the roads,” said Fagan. His journey back to CSC took more than five hours. “The hardest part was that residents didn’t
People were driving on medians and the storm drains, plugged with all the leaves, caused flooding in the street. “We knew we just needed
realize that it was not just their neighborhood
to start there. There was so much stuff; we
impacted, it was the whole city,” Fagan said.
had to do something,” Brown said. Crews cleared streets independently, with assistance
Meanwhile, his crews, spread throughout the
from residents, as they waited until they were
city, were in the same predicament — without cell phone service and radios down temporarily. in northeast Cedar Rapids. Brown received a
saw transformers pop and tree debris flying,
the side of the truck with a sledgehammer, and
chainsaw and began to work. A resident came
Tim Brown and Ryan Even were in two trucks
It sounded like someone was beating on the side of the truck with a sledgehammer, and at one point Ryan Even could see the roof of my truck being lifted off.”
able to receive directions. The cooperation of citizens in the first few hours was critical to the early response.
message from a friend, a weather enthusiast,
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WEATHERING THE STORM
CONTINUOUS SERVICES IN THE
WAKE OF THE STORM
While clearing roadways and restoring power quickly became a priority following the August 10 derecho, an initial feeling of relief came to residents upon discovering that their water was still running and their toilets could still flush. Great care is taken by the City of Cedar Rapids Utilities Department to ensure its ability to provide continuous, reliable service no matter what Mother Nature sends our way.
T
he treatment of water and wastewater are both
the temperature) — took on additional meaning when any
processes that must be online 24 hours a day, day
ounce of normalcy was especially welcome.
in and day out. The sewer and storm sewer network
need to work reliably around the clock. Garbage collection is another essential service residents rely on every week. Reliable service is a benchmark that the entire City of Cedar Rapids team is proud to meet every day. After the storm, simple comforts like a cold glass of water after hours of backyard cleanup — and a shower (no matter
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In the week following the storm, garbage-collection crews provided new relief as entire refrigerators and freezers were emptied from customers’ homes. In only three days, crews collected more than two weeks’ worth of garbage — much of it by hand — as double- and triple-bagged piles awaited curbside collection. This spoiled food could have
NOVEMBER 2020
quickly become another public health crisis had crews not worked the long, strenuous hours needed to get the job done. Having persevered through numerous flood events, City staff understood the importance of maintaining clear waterways and functioning sewer infrastructure. The Sewer division team has a unique skillset which allows their group to assess, map, remove, and repair infrastructure all within their own department. The division continues to work on assessing the damage to waterways and infrastructure following the storm even today. Using computer data developed since the flood of 2008, preliminary assessments of risk areas allowed
Approximately 64 percent of the City’s waterways were blocked or had potential to become blocked by tree debris after the storm.
clearing work to be done in an efficient manner.
by sudden loss or startup of electricity. Ongoing maintenance and testing of generator control systems keep the City prepared when such a response is required.
Staff assessed
From 2009 to 2012, projects were completed that
high-risk areas
upgraded electrical management in two City well
and documented
fields. In 2015, overhead power lines were run
any blockages.
underground, connecting one well field directly to
According to
the Northwest Treatment Plant and, subsequently,
data collected, approximately 64 percent of the City’s waterways were blocked — or had potential to become blocked — by tree debris after the storm.
its generator capacity. In August 2019, the Water division placed a new Kirkwood Boulevard Water Tank into service,
As power was restored in more sectors of the
improving the overall resiliency of the water system.
community, the City’s water and wastewater
Elevated storage tanks give our system greater
treatment processes kept pace, serving the
resiliency during a catastrophic event like this
community’s food and grain processing,
derecho.
manufacturing, and other industrial users. For years, the Cedar Rapids Utilities Department has taken steps to invest in this reliability. In a way, the storm highlighted the importance of that work.
Investments over the past 20 years to standardize the City’s Solid Waste & Recycling collection equipment has also allowed for greater flexibility and interchangeability. Staff were able to reroute
The flood of 2008 provided an opportunity to
yard waste and recycling trucks to run garbage
invest in additional reliability at the City’s water
collection routes when field conditions made this
and wastewater treatment plants. As a result of
necessary.
work following the flood, generator capacity was expanded at the Water Pollution Control Facility. On the morning of August 10, staff were finalizing plans to replace and upgrade generator capacity at the J Avenue Water Treatment Plant as part of the City’s continuing Capital Improvements Program.
In Cedar Rapids, when residents turn on their faucet, they know they can expect safe, great-tasting water to flow. Customers know that, after flushing their toilets, wastewater will leave their house and get treated to a high standard before returning to the water cycle. Cedar Rapids residents count on Solid
Switching to generator power across water and
Waste and Recycling crews to collect garbage and
wastewater utilities was, in most cases, automatic.
keep their homes sanitary. The City is proud of its
This key investment ensures treatment processes
investments in reliable services that promote the
are not interrupted and equipment is not damaged
public health.
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WEATHERING THE STORM
Tackling Recovery
Cedar Rapids has dealt with devastating floods, tornadoes, ice storms — but never before August — hurricanes! The cleanup process following the derecho has been nothing short of unprecedented. Below is a brief summary of the massive coordination efforts that have been underway since August 10, 2020.
I
Immediate Response
n the hours and days following the storm, efforts focused on life-safety issues such as pushing debris off roads, inspecting and assessing housing damage, addressing a massive loss of roadway signage, and reenergizing or replacing more than 100 traffic signals. This involved multiple agencies, jurisdictions, and contractors. The Iowa National Guard deployed on August 13 to clear critical infrastructure using equipment and vehicles that could navigate utility easements and other tight locations where electric crews needed immediate access. Also
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playing a valuable role in clearing roads and hauling debris, were the Iowa Department of Transportation and multiple private contractors that were quickly secured through an emergency bid process. Multiple jurisdictions helped Cedar Rapids crews replace or repair hundreds of roadway signs and traffic signals, and City crews worked seven days a week, dawn to dusk, to clear debris off roadways, using the same prioritization as snow emergencies.
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Long-Term Recovery As cleanup efforts shifted from immediate response to long-term recovery, the City contracted with an experienced company that specializes in large debris cleanup and hauling, using trucks that can each carry the equivalent of five City trucks. Professional debris monitoring firms were also secured to help ensure every ton of debris would be properly documented and eligible for FEMA reimbursement. Multiple haul sites were quickly established to cut down on drive time and to allow crews close access to neighborhoods.
Cedar Rapids committed early to removing all curbside debris for property owners, and completed initial tree debris removal from the public rightof-way by late October, which focused on grabbing bulk piles within easy reach of the truck’s crane. Additional passes are focusing on using smaller trucks to clear narrow streets such as cul-de-sacs and dead ends, addressing hazardous intersections, returning to high volume debris areas to pick up additional material, and responding to missed piles. Hazardous limb removal efforts continue for street trees and private limbs that are hanging in the public right-of-way. Removal of hazardous street trees started in late October. The crews are moving quickly through the entire city to take down as many dangerous, broken limbs as possible before winter. Collection of non-tree debris storm damage got underway in August, starting in areas where tree debris pickup had already begun. The collection of storm debris is ramping up as additional tree debris is removed. A full list of items eligible for pickup is available on the City’s website. Every neighborhood is different and has varying volumes of debris remaining. There is not a set number of passes. Crews will continue collecting tree debris until we determine a reasonable cut-off date is in sight, based on the remaining material. Check the City’s website, www.cedar-rapids.org, for the most up-to-date information.
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WEATHERING THE STORM
SERVING WITH
HEART HANDS Neighborhood Resource Centers offer practical, emotional support
I
n the immediate aftermath of the storm, one of the most obvious needs that arose was trying to get important life-safety information, food, water, and access to professional legal and counseling services to residents — all while under widespread loss of electricity, internet, and cellular phone service. With communication grids down, the City developed new ways to reach residents. Staff from the Community Development Department quickly worked to secure tents, tables, generators, staple food, and hotspots; and opened five Neighborhood Resource Centers across the community on Monday, August 17. The resource centers were located at the Ladd Library, Northwest Recreation Center, St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Metro High School, and Taylor Elementary School. Staffed primarily by city employees representing a variety of departments, these centers created hubs of resources fully stocked — ice, food, water — and connections with all the non-profits who had galvanized in response to the storm’s damage. Residents could also pick up a print informational flyer (updated daily) with information on where to find city services, housing assistance, City department phone numbers, the status of debris removal, and more. The flyers were translated into French, Spanish, Swahili, and Kirundi. “The goal of the resource centers was to serve as hubs of easy access to the community,” said Assistant Director of Community Development Bill Micheel. “Not only could people come and hear critical updates on city services, but they also had access to a family of nonprofits working under one umbrella effort in five locations across the community.” Residents could pick up basic supplies, talk with a trained crisis counselor, or speak with a representative from Iowa Legal Aid who was able to help answer questions on insurance or tenant rights issues. Community partners helped staff the centers, open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. These sites were also coordinated with other food relief efforts, such as Operation BBQ Relief — serving hot lunch and dinner starting the first weekend after the storm — or HACAP’s shelfstable food to help fill pantries. The centers ran with the help of the Parks and Recreation Department, which coordinated the bulk delivery of goods to these sites daily, in addition to bringing back-to-school supplies to these locations to be distributed to families.
It was really inspiring to see neighbors helping neighbors.”
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The resource centers closed down on August 31 as electric power was restored throughout the community. Many services were transferred to the Iowa Department of Human Services, ensuring that access to resources was not interrupted. “It was really inspiring to see neighbors helping neighbors,” said Jeff Wozencraft, a planner in the Community Development Department who helped staff the resource centers. “Reactions from people ran the gamut from those still internalizing what had just happened, to those who were extremely grateful for the help.”
Thank you to the following community partners who supported the Neighborhood Resource Centers: Abbe Center
HACAP
Metro High School
Alliant Energy
Hy-Vee
MidAmerican Energy
American Red Cross
Iowa Derecho Storm Resource Page Facebook group
Operation BBQ Relief
ASAC Cedar Rapids Public Library Cedar River Academy at Taylor Elementary Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Eastern Iowa Health Center / Diaper Bank Feed Iowa First Foundation 2
Iowa DHS Iowa Legal Aid Iowa Pork Producers Association League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Matthew 25
Salvation Army St. Paul’s UMC staff United Way United We March Forward YPN Various local businesses and residents
Mercy Chefs
City staff worked closely with a coalition of organizations to coordinate services following the storm. Linn Area Partners Active in Disaster (LAP-AID) includes more than 40 health and human service organizations and multiple teams with a goal of minimizing the impact of an emergency or disaster. LAP-AID is activated by the Linn County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and supports emergency communications, volunteer management, and resources for recovery. Members of LAP-AID met daily to determine ways they could work cooperatively to meet local needs. They collected information from multiple non-profits to provide to residents looking for resources. The teams were instrumental in providing services, supplies, and volunteers to the Neighborhood Resource Centers operated by the City. They worked together to reduce duplicated services and coordinate resources to reach residents as quickly as possible.
Spontaneous Volunteers Following the derecho, the City established five Neighborhood Resource Centers to provide emergency storm relief. Contributions of spontaneous volunteers at these sites played an important role in the city’s storm response and recovery efforts. Volunteers arrived from near and far, many were neighborhood residents or from nearby communities like Iowa City. Other volunteers arrived from cities several hours away including Des Moines, Sioux City, and communities in Illinois. Some came from as far as New York and Arizona. Daily, spontaneous volunteers helped unload trucks or hand out meals and ice at resource centers. Some also worked in neighborhoods assisting with debris cleanup, putting tarps on roofs, distributing supplies, conducting well-checks, or performing chainsaw work. The hundreds of volunteers enabled the resource centers to operate more efficiently and significantly contributed to the overall storm recovery process.
To assist when park clean-up projects are available, email parks@cedar-rapids.org.
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17
WEATHERING THE STORM
LOCAL BUSINESSES HELP DURING RECOVERY
I
n the days and weeks after the derecho,
profits such as the Zach Johnson Foundation
organizations and individuals stepped up to
and Urban Dreams helping mobilize groups
help the community. Many are wonderful
and provide a coordinated response,”
stories you have probably heard — such as Willie
said Ana Stomp, Cedar Rapids Economic
Ray’s, Hy-Vee, the community-led relief center,
Development Specialist, who helped
and Operation BBQ Relief, which served over
coordinate food sites and distribution.
70,000 meals in Cedar Rapids. Other work was happening that you likely have not heard about.
Thank you to WCK and these local restaurants for serving a crucial role in fulfilling the food
Kevin O’Brian, local McDonalds franchise owner,
needs of the community while power was
quickly mobilized five different stores to provide
being restored. Thank you to the food delivery
over 1000 double cheeseburgers and apple pies
drivers with box trucks who donated their
to residents in need. Kevin also donated and
time to help, the well over 100 volunteers
distributed over 1500 bottles of Gatorade and
who staffed the site; and thank you to every
soda in the Cedar Rapids City Hall parking lot
business, friend, and neighbor who stepped
for residents. Nate Kaeding, a local developer
up to help your community through this
and owner of Big Grove, set up a tent outside of
disaster.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and served over 500 lunches. Atlantic Bottling Company and Kum & Go donated pallets of beverages and water to distribute at multiple food sites. And
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN LOCAL PARTNERS:
the international organization, World Central
Aroma Pizza
Fong’s Pizza
La Reyna
Chilled Freezer Meals
KUWTJ Food Truck
Maria’s Tacos
Don Miguel
Panera
Relish
El Bajío
Caribbean Kitchen
Tacos Don Diego
La Cantina
Parlor City Pub
Dumpling Darling
O’s Grill
Brewhemia
One More Bite
Bricks Bar and Grill
Kitchen (WCK), teamed up with a number of local restaurants to provide over 10,000 meals throughout the community. Most of these meals were delivered directly to residents at apartment complexes and other areas of need. “It was impactful to see so many people and organizations stepping up to help, and non-
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Supporting Business Recovery Shortly after the derecho, the City’s Economic Development staff began reaching out to the business community to assess needs. “Outreach to Cedar Rapids businesses began immediately in the days following the derecho,” stated David Connolly, Economic Development Specialist. “The purpose of initial outreach was to determine if there were any immediate response needs where the City would be able to assist. Once we moved past the initial emergency Once we moved past the initial response, we knew it would emergency response, we knew it be important to develop would be important to develop a complete picture of the economic impact the disaster a complete picture of the had on local businesses.”
economic impact the disaster had on local businesses.”
The division launched a survey to help identify estimated financial loss for local businesses resulting from the storm. Survey responses will be used to measure the adverse impact of recent business disruption in Cedar Rapids economy.
While it is still relatively early to develop a complete picture of the impact of the derecho on business, initial responses indicate total derecho losses exceed $129 million for Cedar Rapids based businesses. The largest category of loss is structural damage at more than $66 million in damage to structures and property. Approximately 25 percent of businesses in Cedar Rapids experienced closure for less than a week, while 60 percent were closed for between one to two weeks. The remainder were impacted by closure of operations. The positive news is 80 percent of businesses responding to the storm loss questionnaire plan no further staffing reductions during 2020, and roughly half of the financial loss will be covered by insurance.
LOCAL RESTAURANTS LOCAL DELIVERY
It is important to note these are preliminary numbers, with many businesses unable to provide financial impact data. The final survey report will be available on the City’s website at www.cedar-rapids.org and the economic development website at www.economicdevelopmentcr.com. Cedar Rapids has a strong business community. Businesses large and small, from manufacturing to retail, all are vital to the economic health of our city. The City of Cedar Rapids will continue to conduct outreach and actively support the needs of our local businesses of all sizes as we continue in recovery.
Free Delivery Code: OURCR www.chomp.delivery
WEATHERING THE STORM
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
D
uring an emergency, the City uses the Incident Command System, which is a standardized approach to command, control, and coordination used by public agencies to manage emergencies. In the City of Cedar Rapids, the Fire Chief is designated as the Incident Commander. Incident command is used to respond to emergency calls for service every day. When large scale disasters occur, the City utilizes an Incident Management Team to provide a coordinated response to the disaster. The Incident Management Team is comprised of individuals from almost every department in the City. When the incident is too large for the local resources to mitigate, Cedar Rapids has mutual aid agreements with area agencies to provide resources to the incident. The Fire Department utilizes these agreements several times a year when there is a large fire or chemical leak, for example.
CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS Emergency Response includes City Incident Management Team When an emergency occurs, the City will utilize resources from various departments including, for example, Police, Fire, Public Works, and Utilities. The City has Mutual Aid Agreements (called 28E Agreements) with surrounding communities that can provide aid, such as fire apparatus, additional law enforcement, public works resources.
If the City needs additional resources or specialized equipment or personnel, Linn
County Emergency Management
If further assistance is needed, the City works with the Linn County Emergency Management Agency, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was adopted as a response framework as part of an afteraction review following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The guiding principles of this framework are flexibility, standardization, and unity of effort. Resources requested outside of the Incident Management System diminish response effectiveness and capabilities to protect the safety and health of the community. NIMS provides resources management, command and coordination, and communication and information management.
LINN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Linn County EMA works with notfor-profits (United Way, American Red Cross, and others) to provide assistance and can procure other resources from the Linn County region. For example, Linn County EMA could get generators, personal protective equipment, bottled water, etc.
IOWA HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (HSEMD) HSEMD can activate state resources or provide needed equipment or specialized personnel.
If HSEMD needs additional resources or specialized equipment or personnel, the If Linn County EMA needs additional resources or specialized equipment or personnel, the Iowa Homeland
Federal Emergency Management Agency is contacted.
Security and Emergency Management is contacted.
is contacted.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
BE READY
FOR AN EMERGENCY
We must all prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. Being ready for an emergency includes staying informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses, developing a family emergency plan, building an emergency supply kit, and getting involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies.
STAY INFORMED
BUILD A KIT After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Assemble a disaster supply kit with at
Receive Text Alerts Sign up for CR News Now
least a three-day supply of food and water, battery-powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit, extra batteries, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place), moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation), wrench or pliers (to shut off utilities), can opener (for food), and a cellular phone with backup battery.
Tune into Your Radio Emergency Alert System Broadcast Channels:
WMT 600 AM and 96.5 FM Receive Weather Alerts Get an All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio
MAKE A PLAN Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important
to know what types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
For more information, visit
GET INVOLVED
https://www.ready.gov/plan
A “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” approach helps individuals rely on people in their neighborhood for assistance within the first 72 hours after a disaster. Neighbors can share information and resources.
Also, consider getting training and volunteer for humanitarian organizations like the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and the United Way of East Central Iowa.
CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG
21
WEATHERING THE STORM
AD D R E S S I N G
HOUSING NEEDS
W
ith the derecho wreaking havoc to every neighborhood in the community, addressing housing needs quickly became a priority. In addition to the work of local social service agencies who stepped in to provide emergency shelters, the City reached out to registered landlords to begin the process of determining how many rental units were still available and undamaged. This outreach enabled staff to assist our most vulnerable citizens by providing information on available units to social service agencies throughout the community. Working alongside landlords was just one piece of the puzzle. Housing staff also routinely drove to apartments and mobile homes to drop off print flyers so residents had access to resource sheets and contact information for City and social services. Staff from our Community Development Department also made daily calls to local hotels and storage units to keep a running list of where rooms or storage was immediately available, in the event someone needed to evacuate quickly. While insurance covers the cost of temporary housing, these efforts were made to meet the needs of those who lacked insurance or had an insurance gap. The City continued to work with local agencies to secure additional housing options for residents, as funding and sheltering options changed throughout phases of recovery. This fall, the City collaborated on a request through the Linn County Emergency Management Agency to secure teams of AmeriCorps volunteers, who have since provided outreach assistance to identify needs that are not being met and to serve as a ground team of volunteers. Moving forward, the City will continue to serve a key role in the community’s recovery efforts and as a resource for our local non-profit agencies, as well as continue to serve our residents directly through established programs and emerging initiatives.
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Making Home Repairs As property owners begin making repairs, the Building Services Department is here to help. For resources on permits, finding a reputable contractor, and more: www.cityofcr.com/homerepair.
ReLeaf - Replant, Regrow O
ne of the most devastating impacts left by the storm was the destruction of the tree canopy. The trees that framed homes and outdoor living spaces and served as the background for
neighborhoods, twisted, snapped, and fell. What had taken generations to grow, toppled in minutes. The structural loss in Cedar Rapids is significant, with more than 65 percent of the tree canopy affected.
The Cedar Rapids Parks Foundation has set up a fund dedicated to replacement of trees in Cedar Rapids parks. Find information about their efforts and how you can contribute at https://crparksfoundation.org/projects
Trees are extremely critical to the community and provide many necessary benefits for the environment. They help prevent water and soil erosion, clean the air, cool streets, provide oxygen, combat climate change, and increase the population of pollinators and birds. The City has a long-standing dedication to trees, holding the longest Tree City USA designation in the state of Iowa. Recovery and regrowth of trees will not be quick, but the City has made replanting a priority for the next ten years.
“While we grieve the loss of so many trees in Cedar Rapids, we are optimistic about the reforestation opportunity that will build a strong urban forest and help address environmental challenges in the future,� said Scott Hock, Parks and Recreation Director and ReLeaf team member. A ReLeaf team has been formed to lead both public and private reforestation efforts. The team is comprised of an experienced, dedicated coalition of partners to help the community replant and regrow. The ReLeaf team is in the process of reviewing plans
ReLeaf Team
from other cities across the United States, analyzing information that is available about the impact to the tree canopy, and identifying resources available to assist. Trees Forever will develop a comprehensive, multi-phased plan to lead the city through reforestation over the next decade.
Trees Forever Non-profit Environmental Organization
Jeff Speck Nationally Recognized Expert in City Planning
Confluence Landscape Architecture and Planning Firm
City of Cedar Rapids
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23
WEATHERING THE STORM
TREE PLANTING & CARE
Replanting trees will be critical for our environment and require the participation of many individuals. For some, planting a tree is something they have done before. For others, it may be the first time. Keep the following items in mind when getting ready to replant.
PUBLIC TREE PLANTING Determining if a Tree is Public or Private
Planting a Right-of-Way (Public) Tree As part of the City’s reforestation plan, trees will be planted in designated places along the publicly owned right-of-way. Residents can plant a tree themselves from an approved species list, in an approved location. City crews or partner organizations, like Trees Forever, will plant in spaces that have not been planted by the resident.
Trees within the right-of-way belong to the City. The right-of-way is typically between the sidewalk and the curb, but can vary on streets with no sidewalks. You can look up City right-of-way trees and identified planting spots at http://bit.ly/CRTreeFinder.
You can plant a street tree by following the steps below. Links to Tree Finder, the tree permit, approved tree species, and additional planting information can be found at cityofcr.com/forestry.
Decisions for right-of-way trees, including pruning, cutting and removal, lie in the best interest of the community, as determined by the City. However, we appreciate residents who partner with the City to replant and take care of street trees so we can replace the urban canopy lost to the derecho more quickly.
Find an identified planting spot on Tree
Finder or plan to plant approximately six feet from where a street tree was removed.
Complete a tree permit. Select a tree to purchase from the approved street tree list.
Plant following recommended instructions (available online).
Water and take care of the tree as it grows. 24
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NOVEMBER 2020
PRIVATE TREE PLANTING Tree Diversity In order to receive the most benefits from trees, we need to have a diverse urban forest that is better able to resist pests and diseases, and has the best chance for good growth and long-term survival. Please consider planting multiple species of trees as you replace the trees lost on your property.
Where to Plant When deciding where to replant trees on your private property, consider where utilities are above and below the ground and how other structures, like a shed or garage, will impact the tree. Also consider the projected size of the tree at maturity, the impact on neighbors, and the shade or sun growing conditions that the tree requires.
Deciduous or Coniferous? Consider if you prefer a deciduous or coniferous tree when replacing trees on your private property. Deciduous trees lose leaves in the fall and grow new leaves in the spring. Deciduous trees include fruit or flowering trees that are smaller in size and grown for decorative purposes, shade trees with a large canopy of leaves, and columnar trees that are tall, narrow, and take up less space. Coniferous trees are evergreen and have needle-like leaves they keep year-round. Coniferous trees include Frasier fir, Douglas fir, Norway spruce, and white spruce. Coniferous trees cannot be planted on the right-of-way.
TREE CARE
Pruning
Watering
Avoid pruning when you plant a new
Water trees in the spring, summer,
tree, unless you are removing dead or
and fall when the ground is not frozen.
broken branches. Dead or diseased
Water at the base of the tree for 30
branches can be pruned at any time
minutes weekly for new trees and one
of the year, unless the tree is an elm
to two hours every other week for
or oak. Oak and elm trees should not
mature trees if there has been less
be pruned from March 1 to November
than one inch of rain per week.
1 to prevent the spread of Dutch Elm
Mulch Mulch should be three inches deep and kept away from the trunk of the tree. Spread it out as wide as possible, at least to the outer edge of the tree canopy. Mulch can be replenished every two to three years.
Disease and oak wilt. CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG
25
NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
CEDAR RAPIDS TAKES CLIMATE ACTION As human-created greenhouse gases are added
action. In October, the City announced the launch of its engagement and planning effort to build a Community Climate
to Earth’s atmosphere, global temperatures warm and cause extreme weather to occur more often and more intensely. In
Action Plan (CCAP).
Cedar Rapids, this means more hot days, flash flooding, river
Along with citywide kickoff events and an initial Community
flooding, and weather anomalies.
Climate survey, City staff have been working with neighborhood partners, called “Ground Teams,” to ensure
Cedar Rapids’ extreme weather events impact everyone, though residents with existing vulnerabilities are impacted the most. High-heat events are more difficult for those without air conditioning; disasters requiring quick mobility and cash expenditure impact those of more limited means; and other extreme weather events may have a higher impact on folks with existing health challenges.
equitable, diverse engagement from residents. A Climate Advisory Committee will further guide the process during the next phase of CCAP planning, which launches in January. The next phase is focused on further community engagement and building the CCAP. The plan will be finalized next Fall. You can follow along with the planning process at
On February 25, 2020, the Cedar Rapids City Council passed a resolution recognizing the urgency for community climate
SPRING YARD PROJECT REMINDER
www.CityofCR.com/climate.
EASEMENT
Do your spring plans include adding a new fence, replacing a damaged shed, or tackling other projects that run along the perimeter of your property? rain events, and to preserve utility line access so crews
It is important to check first and make sure you are not
can make important repairs when needed. Before
building on a public easement. Easements are primarily
building on an easement, you will need to apply for an
reserved for utilities and water flow. It is necessary to
encroachment agreement.
keep these areas free of fences, sheds, gazebos, etc. in order to ensure water flow is not blocked during heavy
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Find details on our website: CityofCR.com/Encroachments
|
NOVEMBER 2020
Construction on the 16th Avenue SE floodwall and roller gate wraps up this year.
ON THE PLUS SIDE A new blog, called “On the Plus Side” is available on the City’s website. The blog features news and stories about positive things happening in the City. Look for highlights on new development
A variety of permanent flood control initiatives are underway on both sides of the river. Read details:
See what was accomplished this year and preview next year’s improvements:
CityofCR.com/FloodControl
CityofCR.com/PavingforProgress
projects, City initiatives and community partnerships. Find On the Plus Side at CityofCR.com/Plus and featured on the City’s website homepage.
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Full-time financial advisor
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Financial Advisor 319-739-2999 RyanNorton@fsbinvestments.net myfsbonline.com/investments | 319-739-2999 Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Products sold are NOT FDIC insured, have no bank guarantee and may lose value. Cambridge, FSB Investment Services, and Farmers State Bank are not affiliated.
CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG
27
CITY SERVICES DIRECTORY CITY SERVICE
LOCATION
Animals
7241 Washington View Parkway SW
Assessor
City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW
319-286-5888
CRAssessor@Cedar-Rapids.org
Bid Opportunities
City Hall, 101 1st Street SE
319-286-5021
Bid-Purchasing@Cedar-Rapids.org
Building and Housing Codes
City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW
319-286-5831
Building@Cedar-Rapids.org
Buses
Ground Transportation Center, 450 1st Street SE
319-286-5573
CRTransit@Cedar-Rapids.org
Fire Safety Inspections
713 1st Avenue SE
319-286-5166
CRFire@Cedar-Rapids.org
Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection
City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW
319-286-5897
Solid-Waste-Recycling@Cedar-Rapids.org
Housing Assistance Programs
City Hall, 101 1st Street SE
319-286-5872
HSG-Admin@Cedar-Rapids.org
Land Development
City Hall, 101 1 Street SE
319-286-5822
DevelopmentServices@Cedar-Rapids.org
Park Rentals
City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW
319-286-5566
Recreation@Cedar-Rapids.org
Potholes and Street Maintenance
City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW
319-286-5826
Street@Cedar-Rapids.org
Recreation Programs
Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th Street NW
319-286-5566
Recreation@Cedar-Rapids.org
Sewer Backup or Problems
City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW
319-286-5815
Sewer@Cedar-Rapids.org
Traffic Signals, Signs and Markings
City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW
319-286-5176
Traffic@Cedar-Rapids.org
Utility Billing
City Hall, 101 1st Street SE
319-286-5900
WaterMail@Cedar-Rapids.org
th
th
st
th
PHONE
EMAIL ADDRESS
319-286-5993
AnimalControlMgmt@Cedar-Rapids.org
For more information about the City of Cedar Rapids and its services, call 319-286-5080 or visit www.cedar-rapids.org.
CITY COUNCIL
To leave a message for a City Council member, call 319-286-5051. Find your district at www.linncountyelections.org.
MAYOR
DISTRICT 1
DISTRICT 2
Martin Hoeger
Scott Overland
DISTRICT 3
DISTRICT 4
DISTRICT 5
Dale Todd
Scott Olson
Ashley Vanorny
Brad Hart
b.hart@cedar-rapids.org
m.hoeger@cedar-rapids.org
dalet@cedar-rapids.org
scott.olson@cedar-rapids.org
AT LARGE Patrick Loeffler
p.loeffler@cedar-rapids.org
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a.vanorny@cedar-rapids.org
AT LARGE
AT LARGE
Tyler Olson
Ann Poe
t.olson@cedar-rapids.org
OUR CR
s.overland@cedar-rapids.org
NOVEMBER 2020
ann.poe@cedar-rapids.org
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NOVEMBER 2020
