IOWA DERECHO 2020
Where to get help: Resources for residents after the derecho
On Monday, Aug.10 Iowa was hit with a derecho — hurricane strength, straight-line winds — that leveled homes, businesses and left thousands without access to food, power or internet.
Because fact-based, useful information about the derecho recovery and its impact locally is crucial to the safety of our community, we're offering unlimited access to The Gazette's most important coverage of the storm and its impact here.
Send us your stories: Share your experiences here.
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Find financial help: Learn how to apply for FEMA aid and other financial help for storm victims.
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'Treasuring Our Trees' Prairiewoods online series explores healing, understanding derecho changes
While winter's landscape appears to lie dormant under the snow, don't let that fool you. ...
Crews pulling derecho debris from Marion waterways
MARION - Clearing Marion's waterways of trees and branches downed by last year's derecho is expected to cost about $20 million and take months. ...
After derecho, Cedar Rapids parks face winter of cleanup
CEDAR RAPIDS - Shannon Ramsay recalls Daniels Park in the northeast quadrant as a majestic green space with 'magnificent' oak trees. ...
ITC Midwest, Alliant Energy receive national award for derecho response
The Edison Electric Institute, which represents all investor-owned utilities in the United States, gave Alliant Energy and ITC Midwest its Emergency Response Award for 'for working collaboratively to restore electricity' after the Aug. 10 derecho. ...
Local Santa, Mrs. Claus find hope in year of fighting cancer, COVID and a derecho that destroyed their reindeer farm
Jodi and John Philipp were driving home from a cancer treatment session in Iowa City to their home in Van Horne when the derecho hit. ...
Historic train depot to receive repairs in Marion after derecho
MARION - Marion's train depot in City Square Park soon will be repaired after being heavily damaged in last August's derecho. ...
Federal tax relief bill for those affected by derecho, other disasters signed into law
Those affected by the Aug. 10 derecho and other disasters may receive tax relief following the passing of the federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 last week. ...
First event in Cedar Rapids Kennedy's renovated gymnasium is Monday
CEDAR RAPIDS - After nearly five months and $1.5 million, the Kennedy High School gymnasium is back in business. ...
2020 took bad weather to new extremes
As most of us are breathing a sigh of relief that 2020 is finally over, many meteorologists are doing the same thing. ...
Blue spruce damaged in derecho lights up Christmas for Cedar Rapids church
CEDAR RAPIDS - On Christmas Eve, after singing hymns in the cold, members of First Congregational Church of Christ turned on a light against the darkness, illuminating a Christmas tree that symbolized more than trees normally do. ...
Bridge Under the Bridge couple gifted food trailer by 'Good Morning America'
CEDAR RAPIDS - Bridgette Williams-Robinson and her husband, Jovountae Robinson, didn't intend to start a nonprofit. ...
Cedar Rapids sign companies see unprecedented demand after derecho
Phil Garland's typical work day has been rather unorthodox since Aug. 10. ...
Chicago man charged with making false FEMA claims on vacant Cedar Rapids house after derecho
CEDAR RAPIDS - A 23-year-old Chicago man was charged Monday in federal court for making a false claim on a house in attempt to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency benefits for damage caused by the August derecho. ...
Jules Bakery in Marion won't reopen, after 19 years in business
The owner of Jules Bakery said Friday she will not reopen her Marion business. ...
Cedar Rapids announces full return to alley collection of waste carts
CEDAR RAPIDS - The city's Solid Waste & Recycling division Wednesday announced a full return to alley collection of garbage, recycling and yard waste carts, according to a news release. ...
Trees Forever names new executive director as community works to replenish lost tree canopy
CEDAR RAPIDS - Marion nonprofit Trees Forever will welcome Kiley Miller as its new executive director in early 2021 amid a historic effort to replant trees downed by the Aug. 10 derecho in Iowa. ...
Months after derecho, Kennedy High plans to welcome students in January
CEDAR RAPIDS - After the Aug. 10 derecho swept through Cedar Rapids, Associate Principal Jessica Johnson walked through Kennedy High School ankle-deep in water to survey the destruction. ...
Cedar Rapids gearing up to fully launch ReLeaf initiative after derecho
CEDAR RAPIDS - The city could enact the bolder policies of some other communities to fully commit to increasing its tree canopy after so many trees were downed in the Aug. 10 derecho, renowned city planner Jeff Speck said Thursday. ...
Second round of disaster grants available for Marion residents and small businesses
The Marion Chamber Foundation announced on Wednesday that $18,000 has been awarded to Marion small businesses and residents through the Disaster Recovery Grant. ...
Still waiting on FEMA check after derecho? New loan fund may help
CEDAR RAPIDS - With winter closing in and federal aid and insurance payments backlogged for some, community organizations have teamed up to establish a new revolving loan fund to help Linn County homeowners repair homes damaged in the Aug. 10 derecho. ...
Derecho takes more than $133 million toll on some Cedar Rapids businesses
CEDAR RAPIDS - A sampling of 111 Cedar Rapids businesses have told the city they lost a combined $133.4 million because of the Aug. 10 derecho that pummeled Eastern Iowa with hurricane-force. ...
Patch Program helps homeowners with derecho damage prepare for winter
CEDAR RAPIDS - During the derecho that pummeled Cedar Rapids, the hurricane-force winds ripped siding and gutters off Holly Hartkemeyer's house in northwest Cedar Rapids. ...
Replanting the landscape: Taking the long view of woodland recovery
The Gazette is working with the Linn Landowner Forum to present a weekly series of columns about elements landowners should consider when replacing trees and plants lost in the Aug. 10 derecho. The series will focus on recovery, the importance of native plants and other topics. Eighth in a ...
Alliant Energy works to repair 'thousands' of Cedar Rapids streetlights damaged in derecho
CEDAR RAPIDS - About 400 miles away from home, Logan Berns and Nick Meyer spent their afternoon earlier this month in northeast Cedar Rapids repairing streetlights. ...
Texas workers helping with derecho recovery will be paid
Workers from Texas who said they had not been paid for nearly a month of construction work in Cedar Rapids will be paid by a Colorado company overseeing the project. ...
For one Cedar Rapids couple, a slow recovery after derecho, COVID-19
The Aug. 10 derecho toppled a tree that fell on top of William and Myrtle Ross' mobile home in Cedar Rapids. ...
Texas workers say they haven't been paid for Cedar Rapids construction work after derecho
CEDAR RAPIDS - Texas workers who came to Cedar Rapids to help with construction after the August derecho say they haven't been paid by a contractor for nearly a month. ...