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Flood
Recovery Update
The Cedar
Rapids Salvation Army has been on the front line since disaster struck this
community in June. In the initial days, efforts concentrated
on feeding emergency workers, firefighters, police officers, National Guard
troops, volunteer responders and sheltered individuals. Once the flood
waters receded, the focus turned to supporting the clean-up efforts with mobile
feeding via canteens in the flood affected neighborhoods and downtown business
district. The Army served over 125,000 individuals including more than 98,000
meals and nearly 332,000 snack and hydration items through its mobile feeding
operations. Expenses averaged $15,000 - $20,000 per day in the first 30
days of disaster response.
Within
two weeks of the flood, The Salvation Army established a disaster recovery and
distribution center in the former Econo Foods grocery store on the NE side of Cedar Rapids. The
center allowed The Army to receive and warehouse donations from across the
country. Over 2,000 flood-affected households received goods and services.
The center closed July 31st, but reopened one week in August to hold a clothing
and household goods give-a-way – a partnership effort of more than 15
businesses and churches. Close to 3,000 people took advantage of this
opportunity.
Through
the generosity of the Nash Finch Company, this space is secured through the end
of 2008. It will be used for similar cooperative efforts in the coming
months to provide additional goods and services to flood affected
households. It will also serve as this year’s site for The Army’s annual
Christmas Toy Shop and holiday food box distribution.
The Army
itself was a flood victim and is steadily making progress in its own
recovery. The lower level of The Army’s facility was a total loss – home
to youth programs including summer day camp and after school activities.
This space is also utilized by seniors for social, recreational and fitness
programs and also for Salvation Army church programs. Clean-up, rebuild
and replacement costs are estimated at nearly $500,000. The building
clean-up is now complete and reconstruction is underway. We hope to
regain use of this space in early 2009.
Outside
of its own facility loss, Salvation Army officials project that the Linn County response will easily be a multi-million dollar undertaking –
and a multi-year endeavor. The Army knows firsthand the magnitude and
scope of the destruction and devastation experienced here. Staff and
volunteers are working one on one with those suffering loss, facing so much
helplessness and despair. The Army knows that these feelings will not
disappear overnight and that needs will evolve and endure for years to
come. That is why The Army has made a commitment to be an active lead
partner in the long-term recovery process.
The Army
is continuing its response in close partnership with the Linn Area Long Term
Recovery Coalition. The coalition is a partnership of more than 70 local
health and human service providers, government agencies, funding sources,
faith-based organizations and others dedicated to supporting collaborative
long-term recovery efforts to rebuild the lives of those impacted by the Flood
of 2008.
Coalition
priorities focus on assessing and prioritizing unmet household needs; securing
and distributing flood recovery resources; providing access to case advocacy,
crisis counseling and spiritual and emotional care; coordinating and utilizing
volunteer resources; and improving communications to/between flood affected
households, area service providers, local government, the media, the general
public and other interested parties.
The
Cedar Rapids Salvation Army is moving forward with the confidence that it is
headed in the right direction. The local corps has the benefit of over
120 years of experience behind it and a wealth of expertise at its side.
The Salvation Army knows disaster response and recovery – it has been involved
in efforts around the world for over 100 years. From tsunamis,
hurricanes, earthquakes and floods to tornadoes, fires, warfare and other catastrophic
human acts, The Army is at its best when others are facing their worst.
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