Gazette Daily News Podcast, August 17
This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk and I’m here with your update for Monday, August 17, 2020.
Today sees a slight chance of rain before noon, but then it should get sunnier and creep up to 83 in the afternoon. Every day this week is projected to be sunny with highs in the mid 80s.
Governor Kim Reynolds is requesting a expedited federal disaster declaration. Yesterday, Reynolds requested speedier response of federal aid for Iowa counties impacted by the derecho, estimating the state needs nearly $4 billion in relief to get back on track. Reynolds already made a state disaster declaration, but now she’s attempting to expedite aid from the federal level, a request she says is unusual to see approved within days, but something that is sorely needed in many Iowa counties.
50,000 still without power in Linn and Johnson counties. As of 11 a.m. yesterday, 48,718 of Alliant’s 97,603 Linn County customers were without power, and 287 of Alliant’s 9,827 Johnson County customers also had no power. Alliant says the majority of its customers should have power back by Tuesday as crews continued to work furiously to replace lines and bring substations back online. Many businesses providing essential services, including grocery stores and gas stations, have their power back. Public facilities, including Cedar Rapids City Hall, police and fire departments, the Public Works facility, water plants and The Eastern Iowa Airport have power as well.
Cedar Rapids lost half its tree canopy in derecho. According to Todd Fagan, Cedar Rapids city arborist, the city’s municipal tree population has a structural value of $112 million. He has estimated about half its tree canopy is gone after last Monday’s storm. In coming weeks and months, the city will document each damaged or fallen tree in its inventory to determine total loss and figure out how to replant. He says “It’s definitely the most devastating thing [he’s] ever seen.” Once recovery is complete, it’ll be time to start planting again, but it’ll be years before the new growth reaches pre-storm levels.
Free food, drink, ice, and other resources are available all around Cedar Rapids. Operation BBQ Relief will be serving 500 meals at the following sites every day for the next week from noon to 2 p.m and from 5-7 p.m at the following locations.
-Downtown Public Library (450 5th Avenue SE)
-Ladd Library (3750 Williams Blvd SW)
-NW Recreation Center (1340 11th Street NW)
-Jane Boyd Community House (943 14th Ave SE)
-Taylor Elementary School (720 7th Avenue SW)
-Roosevelt Middle School (300 13th Street NW)
-Grant Elementary School (254 Outlook Drive SW)
-Johnson STEAM Academy (355 18th Street SE)
-Nixon Elementary School (200 Nixon Drive, Hiawatha)
-Jefferson School (1243 20th Street SW)
-Polk Alternative Education Center (1500 B Avenue NE)
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