Recovery is underway in the Iowa City area following a rare derecho storm that traveled hundreds of miles and pulverized local communities by uprooting trees, collapsing buildings, and downing infrastructure like water, electricity, and internet.
Folks in clean-up mode can find some directions and resources in the list below:
City of Coralville
The City of Coralville is instructing its residents to place storm debris at the curb for collection, or haul it to two locations in the city. Only tree debris belongs at the curb. Roofing materials and other damage should be thrown away. Instructions on how-to dispose of tree and other debris is available online.
City of Iowa City
Crews with the City of Iowa City are removing debris that have been collected and placed at the curb. Follow instructions for safe and proper pick-up. The city has provided a video tutorial on storm clean-up for its curbside customers.
To report damage in city streets and on other public property, call 319-356-5181 or use the city’s mobile reporting app. Additional aid and recovery resources are available online from city officials.
City of North Liberty
Crews in North Liberty have begun what they call the “long process” of removing tree debris at the curb. A drop-off location is also available in the community. Shingles, siding, and other storm debris can be dropped off at the city’s public works facility beginning Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. Instructions for both curbside and drop-off disposals are available online.
Iowa City Landfill
People living in Iowa City, Johnson County, and other communities served by the Iowa City Landfill can also drop-off tree debris at the Iowa City Landfill, 3900 Hebl Avenue SW. There are no size limits or bundling requirements for drop-off.
Utility and Infrastructure Updates
Check with your individual provider for updates about restoring power and other services. Many feature web portals that show current outages and allow for self-reporting. You can also sign-up to receive updates on restoration efforts.
Apply for Assistance
If your family is in need of financial or other assistance due to the storm, consider these resources:
- Iowa Disaster Assistance Programs
- Johnson County General Assistance
- United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties Assistance
I Want to Help
Please remember to wear masks and keep a safe social distance while helping neighbors with debris and other tasks — after all we are still in a pandemic due to COVID-19. The U.S. government has provided safety tips for removing storm debris — keep these in mind as you clean up your property and help family, friends, and neighbors.
If you’d like to make a financial contribution to help with emergency relief efforts for the Iowa City area, please consider donating to the United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties. To help our friends in the Cedar Rapids area who saw even more devastation, please consider supporting the United Way of East Central Iowa.
