Hunter
08/13/20
Alliant Energy spokesperson Mike Wagner says it could be five to seven days before all Cedar Rapids area residents who lost power in Monday’s storm will have it turned back on.
During a lengthy press conference Thursday afternoon, the first since the storm hit, City Manager Jeff Pomerantz said that there’s no comparing the damage sustained Monday to the floods of 2008 and 2016. The worst of the two floods affected about 14 square miles of Cedar Rapids, but the derecho damaged all 75 square miles of the metro.
First District Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer spoke at the presser, held at the Cedar Rapids Central Fire Station. She said she is working with local, state and federal agencies to get the resources the area needs, saying “We need all the help we can get, and we need it now.” She called on Governor Reynolds to set federal assistance in motion.
Police Chief Wayne German said that the citywide curfew of 10pm to 6am will remain in effect until further notice so that citizens can be safe and not be out in blacked-out areas of the city putting themselves in peril.
United Way of East Central Iowa spokeswoman Kristin Roberts said they are working to set up a disaster fund site so that those who want to help can make a secure donation to the cause.
Mayor Brad Hart ended the conference by saying that “we’re all in this together” and the city will use all available resources to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
KCJJ will continue to update storm recovery efforts; if you have information to be shared on the air, please email us: kcjjam@gmail.com.