COAD Coordinates Flood Recovery

The Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) met Monday, September 26 to begin prioritizing and assessing flood recovery efforts.

The COAD serves the entirety of Black Hawk County by bringing together voluntary agencies, businesses, and governmental agencies in order to allow for more effective preparedness, response and recovery. Some of the representatives include Cedar Valley United Way, Volunteer Center, Operation Threshold, Salvation Army, Red Cross, City of Waterloo, City of Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, and Black Hawk County Emergency Management.

The COAD determined that the early response to the recovery is identifying emergency food and shelter. The early assessments will be compiled by the 211 service. This immediate response should be followed by clean-up and assessment of damages. Residents who have damage to report should call 211, 319-739-4211, or 1-866-469-2241. The information collected on the call includes name, address, telephone number, age of oldest in the household, type of damage, type of insurance coverage, and volunteer need.

Gov. Terry Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency activating the Iowa Individual Assistance Program providing grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the current federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $40,320, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to disaster recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim. Locally, the applications will be taken by Operation Threshold, 319 -291-2065.

Those interested in volunteering to assist with recovery efforts should complete volunteer interest form at www.vccv.org.

On behalf of the COAD, Cedar Valley United Way will accept monetary donations to be dispersed in the community. Donations will go to impacted residents for assistance as directed by the COAD.

Click HERE for disposal sites in Waterloo and Cedar Falls.