Iowa storm updates: Cleanup, shelters, volunteering and more in Cedar Rapids area

Here are the latest updates on cleanup, volunteering, power outages and more in the Cedar Rapids area for Friday through Sunday, Aug. 14-16. Gazette staff will continue to update this article as information is available throughout the day. For Thursday's updates, click here.  

» WHERE TO GET FOOD/WATER: Click here for details on food, water and meal distribution sites

» HOW TO DONATE: If you want to help Iowans, here are some places to donate

» CEDAR RAPIDS RESOURCES: Important information for residents

 

Neighborhood Resource Centers to open at five sites Monday

Starting Monday, August 17, Neighborhood Resource Centers will be set up at five sites throughout Cedar Rapids to consolidate resident services. Locations include:

·       Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd SW

·       Northwest Recreation Center parking lot, 1340 11th St NW

·       St. Paul's Methodist Church, 1340 3rd Ave SE

·       ROC Center, 1202 10th Street SE

·       Taylor Elementary School, 720 7th Ave SW

The centers will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily and be staffed with City employees and volunteers. Initially, the sites will provide food and daily updates on services for residents. Additional resources will continue to be added including supplies for clean-up, and legal and mental health assistance. The sites are coordinated by Linn Area Partners Active in Disaster (LAPAID) organizations. Services will transition as additional resident needs are assessed.

Charging stations and internet access in Cedar Rapids 

Locations will open according to the schedule below until electrical power in Cedar Rapids has been restored:

• U.S. Cellular Center Arena (370 First Ave. NE): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Enter the arena off First Avenue near the Fourth Street railroad tracks. Masks are required for everyone inside the arena, and individual charging stations are social-distanced.

• Downtown Public Library (450 Fifth Ave. SE): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Connections will be available outside of the library's main entrance.

City transit service resumes

City transit service resumed Monday, Aug. 17. Buses may be delayed. Find your bus using the bus tracker: http://www.ridecrt.com

Bank branches reopen in Cedar Rapids

Four of Wells Fargo's eight branches in the Cedar Rapids area are open.

The locations at 3570 First Ave. NE, 4051 42nd St. NE and 500 33rd Ave. SW are open via drive-thru or a scheduled appointment in the lobby. The 150 First Ave. NE location is also available for in-lobby appointments.

Wells Fargo's Marion location is closed due to roof damage, and its other locations in southwest Cedar Rapids is closed due to issues related to the power outage. The Newhall location has been closed because of coronavirus.

Day shelters available in Cedar Rapids, surrounding areas

These locations are available during the daytime for residents in need:

• Cedar Rapids: Veritas Church, 509 Third St. SE. (Hours will be listed when known)

• Center Point: Anderson Public Library, 720 Main St. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday.• Hiawatha: City of Hiawatha Community Center: 101 Emmons St. 7:30 a .m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

• Robins: City of Robins Community Center: 265 S. Second St., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

• Springville: City of Springville City Hall: 304 Broadway St. 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

• Coggon: Coggon Old Fire Station: 112 Second St. S. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. No air conditioning.

• Palo: City of Palo Community Center: 2800 Hollenbeck Road. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Also an overnight shelter.

Red Cross opens overnight shelters in Cedar Rapids, Palo

The American Red Cross has opened an overnight shelter in Cedar Rapids at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 50 Second Ave. Bridge, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday. 

Individuals and families who have been impacted by the storm and power outages are welcome to the shelter where Red Cross volunteers are on hand to assist. Protocols are in place to ensure social distancing and additional steps are taken to maintain a safe environment in the shelter due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A second overnight shelter is open in Palo at the Palo Community Center,  2800 Hollenbeck Road. 

Anyone in need of assistance can call 1-800-RED-CROSS and select option '4,' then option '2,' then option '2' again, and provide information on their location so appropriate services can be arranged.

Download the Red Cross Emergency App for shelter information and to get instant access to information and resources. The app is free and can be downloaded in app stores by searching for 'American Red Cross' or going to redcross.org/apps.

More locations for charging medical devices in Cedar Rapids 

The following locations in Cedar Rapids are open for residents that need a place to charge medical equipment or need a day shelter. Please note that medical supplies are not available at these locations. These locations are available daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Downtown Public Library (Fifth Avenue and Fifth Street in the parking lot)

• Twin Pines Golf Course (parking lot, 3800 42nd St. NE)

• Northwest Recreation Center (parking lot), 1340 11th St. NW)

• Shores Event Center (Corner of F Avenue and 16th Street NE in the back parking lot)

United Way recruiting volunteers in Linn County

Alongside Linn Area Partners Active in Disaster, United Way of East Central Iowa has activated a volunteer response center to help our neighbors during the aftermath of Monday's storms. If you are looking to volunteer, here are three ways you can sign up to help:

1. Sign up in-person at Linn County Emergency Management, located at 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW. They are open from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

2. Sign up to volunteer online at uweci.org/volunteernow

3. Call to volunteer — or request volunteer help — by calling 224-406-1366

Watch for warning signs of gas leaks

MidAmerican customers should pay attention to any signs of a natural gas leak, spokesman Geoff Greenwood said.

If residents notice an odor similar to rotten eggs or a skunk, they should leave the area immediately without touching anything that could cause a spark. Natural gas leaks could also "blow dirt, make bubbles, kill vegetation or create an area of frost on the ground in warm weather if it leaks from an underground pipe," Greenwood said in a statement.

It could make a quiet hiss or loud roar as well.

Customers should report a possible leak to MidAmerican at 800-595-5325 and dial 911.

Where to get help: Storm recovery resources

211 General Assistance

Food, funding, and shelter: Dial 2-1-1, text your zip code to 899211 or visit 211iowa.org

Food Pantries

foodpantries.org/st/iowa

Linn Community Food Bank is open Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. They are located in the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St SE in Cedar Rapids. Each client will get a bag of groceries, milk coupon, and a protein.

Financial Help

Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program

Disaster Case Management

» Note: Make sure to keep your receipts from disaster expenses (and pictures) for possible future assistance from feds.

Mental Health

If you are struggling and need to talk with someone, call 1-800-273-TALK

Linn County Emergency Management Agency

Information on shelters, debris removal and what towns in Linn County are doing to respond to the storm needs: Website

Linn County Public Health

Information on burning, road closures, safety tips with generators and food. linncounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1783

Iowa Department of Public Health

Disaster relief resources, including agriculture: iowa.gov/disaster-recovery-resources

Iowa Department of Human Services

Disaster assistance programs, such as food assistance replacement: dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs

Red Cross - Serving Iowa

Can provide temporary lodging and meals. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS and press 0 to speak with a representative

More resources

• Food Replacement Assistance, Disaster Assistance Grant

• County Disaster Reporting

•  HACAP Disaster Assistance Page

•  State Individual Disaster Assistance Grant Application

•  City of Cedar Rapids cleanup/recovery information

•  City of Iowa City cleanup information

•  City of Coralville cleanup information

•  City of North cleanup information

•  MidAmerican Energy Power Outage Map

•  Alliant Energy Power Outage Map

— information from ICR Iowa

Iowa City providing bags to help with cleanup

The City is offering paper yard waste bags at multiple locations around the community at no cost to assist with post-storm cleanup.

Bags are in bundles of five; please limit to one bundle per household to ensure more community members have access to bags. Bags will be available Friday while supplies last, at the following locations:

• Creekside Park shelter, 1858 7th Avenue Court

• Longfellow trail info kiosk, 1400 block of Sheridan Ave.

• Court Hill Park north shelter, 2825 Friendship St.

• Mercer Park shelter, 2701 Bradford Drive

• Broadway Street Neighborhood Center, by the shed, 2105 Broadway St.

• Highland Park, 750 Highland Ave.

• Kiwanis Park shelter, 1519 Teg Drive

• Benton Hill Park gazebo, intersection of West Benton Street and Miller Avenue

• Hunters Run Park shelter, 924 Duck Creek Drive

• North Market Park gazebo, 600 Fairchild St.

Iowa City residents who have City of Iowa City curbside garbage pick-up service may place smaller limbs, sticks and loose leaf debris in yard waste containers (City issued carts or residents' own containers sized between 20 and 35 gallons and weighing less than 50 pounds). These items will be picked up on normal garbage days and staff will run extra routes as staffing and equipment allow.

» WHAT TO DO WITH TREE LIMBS: In Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas

City broadcasting updates daily on local radio

City information will be broadcast daily on Z102.9 at 7:30 a.m. and WMT 600 AM at 7:10 a.m. and rebroadcast at 8:35 a.m.

Cedar Rapids curfew still in effect

A nightly curfew continues to be in place in Cedar Rapids from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., though it does not apply to people traveling to and from work.