Derecho Anniversary

In the months following the derecho, Linn County has seen a boom in construction and development activity. Our year-to-date permit activity is up over 400 percent from this same point last year

After the derecho downed most of the city’s tree canopy, Cedar Rapids has made some progress on replanting while its ReLeaf plan to replenish the tree canopy is being drafted.

Churches hit had by last summer’s derecho never thought they’d still be rebuilding a year later.

For Ashely Conner, a pediatric nurse for UnityPoint at Home Pediatrics Extended, you could say she was where she need to be during the derecho.

Cedar Rapids’ tree inventory had nearly 40,000 trees before the derecho. After losing 18 percent of the trees in the storm, the inventory helps city workers figure out which trees to replant and where.

The city has about 8,000 stumps in rights of way and another 5,000 stumps in city parks that need to be ground.

Derecho caused $7.5 billion in damage in Iowa alone

A 72-hour emergency kit is a good place to start. Start with an old suitcase, a large cooler or a sturdy storage bin and fill it with 72 hours’ worth of food and water per person.

Not all the fallen trees left after the storm were turned into mulch. Some of the trunks that remained standing have found new life as yard art.

Many Gazette readers found beauty, kindness and works of art in the aftermath of the devastating 2020 derecho

Swipe to see images of Cedar Rapids and Marion before and after the devastating derecho.

Cedar Rapids residents and those who helped rebuild after the derecho share their stories.