Survey crews to assess damage following severe storms Monday

The day after severe weather hit Eastern Iowa, the National Weather Service said it still was collecting information to assess the severity of damage to the region.

One thing that could be confirmed: the storm system that crossed the state Monday produced a derecho, said Brooke Hagenhoff, a meteorologist with the Storm Prediction Center in Des Moines. It was the second derecho confirmed in Iowa this year.

Hagenhoff said the derecho packed winds of 60 to 70 mph, and started in central Iowa. It moved into eastern parts of the state, then on into Illinois and Indiana, lasting about eight hours. Hagenhoff said that’s the typical range of derechos, which tend to be long-lived.

Damage from Monday’s storm system downed trees and power lines in Linn and Johnson counties, according to reports received by the National Weather Service, said Brian Pierce, a meteorologist in the NWS Quad Cities bureau. He said the bureau also received reports of flash flooding in downtown Cedar Rapids, mainly along First Avenue.

BJ Dvorak, Linn County’s emergency management coordinator, said the county received reports of power outages in Marion and Prairieburg, and reports of power lines down on F Avenue and Second Street in Cedar Rapids.

Statewide, Alliant Energy reported approximately 28,000 power outages during the peak of the storm.

Alliant spokesman Morgan Hawk said about 2,000 people still were without power Tuesday morning, and crews, who worked through the night, were continuing to work to restore power. He estimated all power would be back on by Tuesday evening.

Pierce, with the National Weather Service, said Dubuque had the most reports of damage from the storm. Wind speeds there pushed 100 mph.

Hawk, too, said the Dubuque area was hardest hit in terms of power outages.

Cedar Rapids collecting storm debris

The City of Cedar Rapids will be collecting debris after the storm. Small branches can be placed in residents’ YARDY carts and put out for collection on regular collection days.

Larger logs and branches — more than 5 inches in diameter — should be stacked between the street and sidewalk. Submit a form on the city website, CityofCR.com/MyCR, or call (319) 286-5747 to report a collection location.

The deadline to report vegetative and non-organic debris for collection is noon on Monday, July 22.

Debris will be collected in the southeast and southwest quadrants the week of July 22, and in the northeast and northwest quadrants the week of July 29.

Residential tree debris and yard waste loads can be taken to the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency’s compost/yard waste location, 2250 A St. SW.

Non-organic debris, including shingles, siding, fence pieces, etc., can be collected by scheduling bulky item collection. Contact the Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling division at (319) 286-5897.

Olivia Cohen covers energy and environment for The Gazette and is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Comments: (319) 398-8370; olivia.cohen@thegazette.com