Then & Now: Photos show Eastern Iowa’s recovery five years after the 2020 derecho

Five years ago, pictures told the story of the derecho.

The 140 mph winds that hit Eastern Iowa on Aug. 10, 2020, downed trees and power lines, damaged homes and businesses, flattened crops flattened and upturned lives.

During and after the storm — for months — photojournalists from The Gazette captured images of the damage. This year, to mark the fifth anniversary of the derecho, they returned to many of those locations to capture updated images.

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Before and after: Satellite images show how derecho changed landscape

To see the before and after images, move the slider at the center of the photos below to the left and right. The “before” images are from August 2020, and the “after” images from July 2025.

Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids

In 2020, a contractor was photographed Aug. 13, three days after the derecho, removing tree debris from Third Avenue SE. Today, the damaged trees that once stood in front of the row of houses are gone and new trees have been planted.

Chandler Street SW, Cedar Rapids

On Aug. 10, 2020, a Gazette photographer captured a City of Cedar Rapids front loader clearing a path through the trees downed on Chandler Street SW. Today, the trees are gone, new trees planted in the right of way along the street.

Brucemore, Cedar Rapids

Brucemore, the 26-acre site in southeast Cedar Rapids that’s home to a mansion, gardens and other attractions, was hit hard by the derecho. Shortly after the storm, University of Northern Iowa rugby players volunteered through Green Iowa AmeriCorps to help clear debris from Brucemore’s grounds after dozens of trees were felled. Today, the grounds have been cleared of debris and damage to the mansion has been repaired.

18th Street SW, Cedar Rapids

Downed utility poles — a common scene across Eastern Iowa — littered 18th Street SW on Aug. 11, 2020. Today, the poles have been replaced.

Bowling Street SW, Cedar Rapids

In the immediate aftermath of the storm on Aug. 10, 2020, motorists tried to make their way around Cedar Rapids. On Bowling Street SW, that meant navigating downed trees and power lines. Today, the street is back to normal traffic, although there are fewer trees lining the street.

St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids

Storm debris surrounded the parish center at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in southeast Cedar Rapids on Aug. 11, 2020. The 121-year-old church was heavily damaged in the 2008 floods. Today, the steeple — which was damaged in the derecho — can be seen above the roof of the repaired parish center.

River Valley Cooperative silo, Martelle

On Aug. 21, 2020, an aerial photo showed the destruction of a silo at the River Valley Cooperative in Martelle in southwest Jones County. Five years later, a new silo stands where the previous one was destroyed.

Cornell College, Mount Vernon

On Aug. 20, 2020, a shattered tree, and others that had lost their tops, were photographed by The Gazette on the Cornell College campus in Mount Vernon. Groundscrew members from the University of Dubuque took on maintenance tasks for the Cornell groundskeepers to help clear the debris. Today, the damaged trees have been removed.

Lot along Ellis Boulevard NW, Cedar Rapids

A city lot along Ellis Boulevard in northwest Cedar Rapids became a location where residents could drop off tree debris if they didn’t want to wait for curbside pickup. An aerial photo taken Aug. 21, 2020, showed the pile. Today, the lot is clear.

St. Michael’s Church, Norway

On Aug. 21, 2020, an aerial photograph showed a crew was working to repair St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Norway, in southeast Benton County. The church lost its steeple in the storm. Today, the church has a new steeple and storm-damaged trees have been replaced with a new planting.

320 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids

Debris from a damaged roof and side wall of the downtown Cedar Rapids building at 320 First St. SE is pictured after the storm in August 2020. Today, the lot has been cleared.

11th Street, Marion

On Aug. 17, 2020, a white sheet hung from storm debris awaiting pickup from her curb on 11th Street in Marion. Sheila Speral put the flag out in surrender. Today, the debris has been cleared.

Mount Vernon Road and 15th Street SE, Cedar Rapids

In the Aug. 10, 2020 derecho, a tree fell on an auto mechanic shop and a home at the corner of Mount Vernon Road and 15th Street SE in Cedar Rapids. Today, the debris has been removed, and only a tree stump remains of visible damage.