Cedar Rapids council provides support for a disaster case manager

CEDAR RAPIDS - The City Council this week agreed to spend $6,100 to support the hiring of a disaster services case manager to help residents who in June sustained property damage from storms and flash flooding.

Linn Area Partners Active in Disaster and the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation are contributing a similar amount to the short-term position to help determine unmet needs and assist in disaster recovery.

As part of the effort, the Linn Area Partners and the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program will develop a community 'resource pool” of funds and in-kind items to help out residents.

City officials this week informed the City Council that the Building Services Department recorded some level of damage from the June weather at 306 properties. Of those, about 35 were deemed structurally unsafe with foundation collapses. Trees were damaged at more than 240 locations.

In the cleanup after the damage, the city said its Solid Waste and Recycling Division collected 346 tons of debris placed at the curbside as well as 47 appliances, nine tires and household hazardous materials from 1,050 homes. The disposal cost was $14,469.

In addition, the city estimated that the cost of its cleanup of tree damage will exceed $120,000 and the repair cost of street damage will be more than $2.2 million.

The city reminded residents that they may qualify for up to $5,000 in state disaster assistance if they meet income guidelines. The Small Business Administration also provides low-interest federal disaster loans, the city said.

Late on June 29 and early on June 30, there was a large amount of rain that the city said overwhelmed the storm system and then the sanitary sewer system. Some homes saw backups into their basements as a result, the city said.