Flood Recovery Update – Friday, September 30
The Cedar River level dropped below major flood stage, or 16 feet, at approximately 7 a.m. today. The curfew for those in the evacuation areas has been lifted and businesses and residents will have access to their properties for flood-recovery at Noon today. The area will open to the general public on Saturday.
Crews have worked overnight to restore access to roads. The Edgewood Road bridge was opened late Thursday afternoon. Additional road closures will be lifted as soon as feasible as barriers and pumps are safely removed. Traffic signals that were deactivated are being restored over the next several days to assist with safe traffic flow.
Drive with caution in the downtown area as there may be need for temporary road closures to aide with deconstruction of the flood control system. Road closure information will continue to be posted at www.cedar-rapids.org.
Information for Businesses
The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is coordinating the removal of sandbags for businesses in downtown, Kingston Village, Czech Village and NewBo. This covers the vast majority of affected businesses in the evacuation zone, but not all. The Economic Alliance has coordinated four sites for free sandbag drop-offs from businesses. The sites are to remain open through at least Friday, Oct. 7. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Locations are:
- East side of downtown - Drop-off area is at the site of the former Sixth Street Alliant Energy power plant between the Quaker Oats and Cargill plants. DIRECTIONS: Take Fourth Street SE to Stickle Drive. Turn left on Stickle Drive to cross the railroad tracks and take an immediate right into the gravel driveway alongside the tracks. Follow the drive to the marked drop site. NOTE: Fifth Street SE is reserved for grain trucks going to Ingredion (Cargill).
- NewBo - A portion of the parking lot east of The National, located at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Third Street SE. Vehicles should enter from 12th Avenue SE between Third and Fourth streets SE. After unloading, exit onto Fourth Street SE.
- Czech Village - The parking lot behind the shops on 16th Avenue SW. Take A Street or C Street SW to 17th Avenue to access the parking lot.
- Kingston Village - The parking lot under Interstate 380, bordered by Second and Third avenues SW and L Street SW. Take Second Avenue SW westbound and turn left into the lot. After unloading, leave by turning left onto Third Avenue SW.
Those dropping off bags are advised to check in with those monitoring the stations. They are to direct the unloading process and record basic contact information. People are urged to notify those monitoring the drop-off sites if the bags were inundated by sewer backups or overland water, so those bags can be stacked separately.
The City will be sending out a survey in early October to assess economic impact to private and non-profit employers, commercial property owners, and residential landlords in the 28-foot evacuation zone. Those who are not already included in an email distribution list with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance or Czech Village/NewBo Mainstreet District should visit the City's website and complete a form to receive future surveys and communications. The form can be found online at http://bit.ly/2dGU1j8.
Information on Re-Entry of Homes or Businesses
Residents and businesses re-entering property should be cautious of standing water in basements. City assessments have all been from the exterior of properties. If your electrical system, furnace and water heater have been submerged for any reason, they are to be considered dangerous and unsafe. Call both your electrical and gas provider immediately:
- Alliant Energy – 1-800-ALLIANT or 1-800-255-4268
- MidAmerican Energy – 1-888-427-5632
The City has established a phone line at 319-286-5929 to verify if contractors are properly registered and licensed by the State of Iowa. This is not a contractor referral, but is a verification service. The City will not be requiring contractor registration or badging.
Representatives from the Attorney General’s office will be in Cedar Rapids today and Monday to assist Iowans affected by flooding. The Consumer Protection Division will answer questions and provide information on general advice on hiring a contractor, avoiding fraud, and the state’s price-gouging rule.
Attorney General mobile office location and hours:
Friday, September 30: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cedar Rapids City Services Center
500 15th Ave. SW
Cedar Rapids
Monday, October 3: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cedar Rapids Downtown Library
450 5th Ave. SE
Cedar Rapids
For more information, visit www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov.
For assistance with insurance complaints, call 1-877-955-1212.
Cedar Rapids Building Services Department will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, October 1, and Sunday, October 2, to assist with flood recovery efforts. Staff will be available at City Services Center, 500 15th Ave. SW, to answer any questions regarding re-entry. During these hours the City will issue flood permits to properties that sustained damage. In addition, inspectors will be available to address any flood-related concerns. Call 319-286-5831 with questions during these hours. The fee for flood permits has been waived.
Disposal of Flood Debris
Residents are asked to place flood debris into four separate piles at the curb: one for drywall, carpet, and other household flood debris; one for household hazardous materials like oil-based paints and stains, automotive fluids, and cleaning supplies; one for appliances; and one for electronics. The City will collect these items for free. Collection of flood debris will begin on Monday, October 3, but collection routes will not align with normal collection days.
Normal garbage, recycling and yard waste collection will resume next week in the evacuation areas. Two additional bags of garbage, 35 gallons, no more than 40 lbs., can be placed near the curb for collection in the evacuation areas this coming week, on your normal collection day. Leaf collection will be delayed one week in all areas. It will begin the week of October 10. Individuals who wish to dispose of leaves this week can place them in Yardy carts or paper leaf bags on normal collection days.
Disposal of Residential Sandbags
Please do not place sandbags in your collection carts. Residents looking to remove dry or wet sandbags immediately can bring them to two locations:
- Noelridge Pool parking lot
- Ellis Park, by the tennis courts, starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday
Residents not able to haul sandbags can leave them on their property until the City is able to collect them free of charge. Sandbag pickup is anticipated to start October 10 and run for two weeks. Store sandbags on your driveway or street if not heavily traveled, but leave separation between the curb and storm water run-off area. As a last resort bags may be stored on public right-of-way until pick up. Leave room for utility and emergency vehicles.
Volunteering and Assistance
Individuals interested in volunteering with this effort please contact United Way at www.uweci.org. Businesses that need assistance with these activities are encouraged to call 211.
THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRACTORS
The City of Cedar Rapids would like to thank the efforts of our contractor community for their significant contributions in both personnel and resources during the flood event:
- Accent Trucking
- Advanced Traffic Control
- Altorfer, Inc.
- Ament
- American Concrete Pumping
- Anderson Bogert
- B & M Trucking
- Bee Line Products
- Borst Brothers Construction
- BWC Excavating, LC
- Chris Carter Assoc
- City of Alburnett
- City of Cedar Falls
- City of Coralville
- City of Des Moines
- City of Iowa City
- City of Marion
- City of Monticello
- City of Mount Vernon
- City of North Liberty
- City of Waterloo
- City of West Des Moines
- CRST
- Dave Schmitt Construction
- Delaney Concrete Construction
- DeLong Construction
- Eastern Iowa Trucking
- Foth
- Hawkeye Ready Mix
- HDR
- Heavy Excavating
- Hershberger
- HR Gree
- Iowa DOT
- Iowa Plains
- Jerry's Trucking
- Johnson County
- Johnson County Emergency Management Agency
- Jones CountyQuality Traffic Control
- Kenway Excavating
- Linn County
- Linn County Emergency Management Agency
- LL Pelling
- Martin Marietta
- Maxwell Construction
- McMurrin Trucking
- Metro Pavers
- Midwest Concrete
- Musco Lighting
- Pate Construction
- Peterson Contractors, Inc.
- Pirc-Tobin Construction
- Possibilities Unlimited
- Quality Excavating
- Rathje Construction Co.
- Ricklefs Excavating
- Rogers Concrete
- Roto Rooter
- Schimberg
- Schrader Excavating
- Shoemaker & Halaand
- Skyline
- Snyder
- Stanley
- Star Equipment
- Streb
- SunBelt
- Sycamore Trucking
- University of Iowa
- Wendling Quarries
###