Recovery, preparation continue

It’s been two years since a derecho tore through the region with winds clocked as high as 140 miles per hour, damaging and destroying homes and businesses while decimating the region’s tree canopy.

Recovery from the storm, assessment of the community response and preparation for the next natural disaster continue in Cedar Rapids and in surrounding affected communities.

The $37 million, 10-year ReLeaf partnership between the city of Cedar Rapids and Trees Forever has guided the planting of 2,470 trees along city streets, in parks and other public property. Another 446 trees have been adopted by private property owners with another 500 adoption set for this fall.

Private fundraising efforts for the ambitious project has collected $2.8 million so far, along with the city’s commitment of $1 million annually. Next year, ReLeaf will recruit neighborhood “tree captains” to guide and encourage tree planting in neighborhoods throughout the city. Monarch Research also is spearheading efforts to provide trees to property owners after a storm that knocked down 670,000 trees in Cedar Rapids and 1 million across Linn County.

Cedar Rapids is using portions of its share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for the PATCH program repairing derecho damaged homes, to fund new affordable housing and to match Community Development Block Grants for disaster recovery. Funding also will assist with tree planting, watering, stump removal and for generators at public facilities, such as schools and libraries. Nonprofits critical to disaster response and recovery can also access funding for generators.

Perhaps the most critical ongoing effort is to assess the region’s response to the disaster with the goal of being better prepared for the next one. In just the past eight months, three derechos have crossed through Iowa. And a changing climate is certain to spawn more extreme weather in the years ahead.

A recently released outside assessment of community responses to the 2020 derecho found that local communities need to beef up communication and information sharing, including the coordinated use of social media, and create shared plans for disaster response. More training and regular response drills are needed and larger communities must stand ready to assist smaller communities that lack resources.

All of these efforts will require community support and participation. Just as area residents came together to help each other in the wake of the storm, the spirit of cooperation and involvement is needed to strengthen our communities for times in the future when the skies darken and storms approach. For all of the damage done, we can make the derecho’s lasting legacy a painful moment that led us to create stronger, more resilient communities that can meet the next challenge.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com