Flood Recovery News
July 1, 2008
The Cedar Rapids Area
Chamber of Commerce has been working with The Gazette to create a
directory of businesses that have been impacted by the floods.
This directory will
allow businesses to update their temporary contact information and
provide other information they want to convey to the public. The
directory is intended for all businesses and organizations in
flooded areas.
The submission form
can be found at:
http://www.floodlist.com/relocated_businesses/submit
In order to submit
information, you must sign up for a log-in and a password, which can
be done by clicking on the words “click here” in the area of text
below the log-in box.
If you have problems
or questions, contact Zack Kucharski at
zack.kucharski@gazcomm.com or (319)
398-8219.
_______________________________________________________
June 24, 2008
TO ALL CEDAR RAPIDS AREA BUSINESSES & FRIENDS:
We at SCORE wish to advise you that the U.S. Small Business Administration has established a Business Disaster Recovery Center in Cedar Rapids. Its purpose is to assist businesses damaged by the flood.
- The Center is open EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
- Hours are 9AM to 6PM Monday through Saturday.
- It is located on the lower level of Westdale Mall near the Penney's entrance. Also located nearby are the FEMA and Red Cross teams.
We ask that you pass this on to anyone who may have need of such assistance or questions about such assistance.
Relocated
Business Directory
The Gazette and KCRG-TV9 have created
a new website,
www.floodlist.com, to provide
assistance with long-term flood recovery efforts. The site gives
flood victims the chance to ask for
help – and offers residents the chance to step up and offer
assistance. It also helps users search for lost items and update
contact information, so others know where to find them.
ASSISTANCE FOR
EMPLOYEES & THEIR FAMILIES
This program provides limited
financial assistance to eligible households with disaster-related
needs, which are unable to meet such needs through other means.
Income guidelines and other restrictions apply. The grants are
limited to a maximum of $3,319 per household. Applications
must be submitted within 45 days of the Governor’s Disaster
Declaration (June 8, 2008). Applications are available online
at
www.dhs.iowa.gov or by calling
(877) 937-3663.
GRANT FUNDS
The National Endowment for the
Humanities (NEH) will provide $1 million in Emergency Flood
Assistance Grants for museums, libraries, archives,
universities and other cultural
and historical institutions in federally designated disaster areas
affected by the floods in the
Applicants should
contact the Division of Preservation and Access by e-mail at
preservation@neh.gov or
by telephone at (202) 606-8570) to describe the humanities
collections at risk and the nature of the damage. The
Division’s staff will guide prospective applicants in the
preparation of a letter of request to NEH Chairman Bruce Cole.
View the complete press release at:
http://www.neh.gov/Flood_Assistance.html
Corridor Flood
Recovery Information
For more Corridor flood recovery
information, visit
www.corridorrecovery.org
The U. S.
Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Business Recovery
Center (BRC) in
The BRC is
open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the lower level
of Westdale Mall (
§
§
§
Iowa Small
Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
§
Service Core of
Retired Executives (SCORE)
§
Women’s
§
City of
Business
owners can get help from SBA representatives at any
Disaster
Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
Assistance is
available for victims whose employment was affected by the recent
flooding. If you have worked for an employer covered by
unemployment insurance, you may be eligible for regular unemployment
benefits. If you are not eligible, there is additional
Disaster Unemployment Assistance available. To find out more
about these programs, please visit:
To find
out more about this program, visit:
http://www.iowaworkforce.org/recovery/
http://www.iowaworkforce.org/ui/dua.htm
FEMA Registration
FEMA assistance is available to
homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private,
non-profit organizations affected by the flood. However, you
must register for this assistance. Apply by phone at (800)
621-FEMA (1.800.621.3362) or on-line at www.fema.gov
or
www.dhs.iowa.gov.
If you have insurance, the government may help pay for
basic needs not covered under your insurance policy. Some
disaster aid does not have to be paid back, while other assistance
may come in the form of loans.
After registering with FEMA, if you
have questions about Other Needs
Assistance (ONA) including repair and replacement of
personal property, repair or replacement of an essential vehicle,
moving and storage expenses, disaster-related medical, dental,
funeral, or miscellaneous expenses, call
(866) 434-4692 M-F 8 AM
to 4 PM.
The U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) is a valuable resource for business owners affected by the
floods.
Business Physical Disaster Loans are
low interest loans (4%) to repair or replace disaster-damaged
property including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and
equipment. Businesses of any size and non-profit organizations
are eligible.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
are low-interest loans (4%) to small businesses for working capital
to assist throughout the recovery period. This loan is only
available to applicants who cannot provide for their own recovery
from non-government sources.
http://training.sba.gov:8000/response
_________________________________________________
June 23,2008
WHAT:
WHERE:
Westdale Mall,
WHY:
The
center is designed to provide a wide range of services to businesses
impacted by the flooding
HOURS:
Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6
p.m., until further notice
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Call SBA’s
Public Health Officials Urge Caution When
Cleaning Up Flood Debris
Since bacteria left
behind in flood-ravaged areas can be dangerous, public health
officials urge those who are cleaning up flood-related debris to use
extreme caution. They suggest using:
·
An N95 mask over your nose and mouth
·
Rubber boots
·
Gloves
·
Long sleeved shirts and pants
_________________________________________________
June 17, 2008
From Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Mark Jones 319-521-5735
Effective this
evening, the City of
The downtown
debris removal will take place in three phases.
FIRST PHASE:
Beginning
tomorrow, please dispose of garbage only in the placed dumpsters.
SECOND PHASE:
The disposal of
electronics.
THIRD PHASE:
The third, and
final phase, will then be all scrap metal.
If you have
debris that will be included in the second or third phase, please
place this along building fronts until the proper phase has begun.
Hopefully, the
second and third phase (which may be combined) will begin next week.
Additional press releases will be issued with appropriate
information and updates.
Parking will be affected. Please do not park in the areas designated for collection dumpsters.
Equipment Disposal
CSG Disposal Site
712 58th AVE CT SW
Cedar Rapids, IA
319-369-0463
Open Monday - Friday, 8 am -5 pm