It has been one week since the powerful derecho storm devastated Cedar Rapids. On Sunday the city manager said that cleanup efforts won't be done anytime soon.
“We’re going to take care of it,” Jeff Pomeranz tells KCRG-TV 9. “This is one of the worst disasters in the history of the United States and, certainly, in the case of Cedar Rapids,” Pomeranz says. “There’s a lot of debris, and we’re getting rid of it but it takes time.”
Tens of thousands of people remained without power Monday morning, one week after the storm swept across the state. Chainsaws have been a frequent sight around the city as residents and volunteers get rid of the trees that the storm took down.
“Traditionally, we would say, ‘put everything in a six-foot bundle in front of your home’ and, obviously, we’re dispensing of all of those rules,” Pomeranz tells KCRG-TV 9. “If it’s in front of the house, we’re going to take care of it.”
The debris will end up in the Time Check neighborhood, where the Flood of 2008 took out hundreds of homes. People in the city, as well as debris specialists in trucks, including many crews from out of town, will take the tree debris to drop off.
Pomeranz also says the Veterans Memorial Building is open as a day and overnight shelter. He says Sunday morning 11 people were staying there and the city plans set to open more shelters if needed.
(Photo: KCRG-TV 9)