Date: Saturday, Jan 10, 2009.
Time: 1:00-4:00pm.
Speaker: Representative from the Army Corps of Engineers’ Rock Island office.
Location: At the Bijou Theater in the IMU. Bijou seats 150 and parking will be available in the IMU ramp.
The resovoir is already more than 2 feet higher than it was a year ago after record snowfalls - could this be a sign for this spring's flood?
12/31/2007 06:00 683.35 elevation (ft) verses 12/29/2008 06:00 685.60 elevation (ft)
Questions for the Corps:
1. What is the Corps of Engineers doing/going-to-do to minimize the chances of another flood in PVT in Spring 2009?
2. Some engineers have estimated that had the Corps released 18,000 cfs starting May 23rd or so then water may have not gone over the spill way. Is that correct?
Please submit your questions for the Corp by Dec 30th if possible!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
If we can't get help from the Government - Maybe we can get help from the people the government has helped
As we all struggle to recover from this flood financially, mentally and physically without out enough assistance from our government - we may consider writing the bailout bank executives for assistance as it appears they were awarded a very nice financial package to keep their current jobs. Just a thought...
$1.6 billion went to bailed-out bank execs
Records show bonuses, chauffeurs, health club benefits, financial planning
updated 12:09 p.m. CT, Mon., Dec. 22, 2008
Banks that are getting taxpayer bailouts awarded their top executives nearly $1.6 billion in salaries, bonuses, and other benefits last year, an Associated Press analysis reveals.
The rewards came even at banks where poor results last year foretold the economic crisis that sent them to Washington for a government rescue. Some trimmed their executive compensation due to lagging bank performance, but still forked over multimillion-dollar executive pay packages.
Benefits included cash bonuses, stock options, personal use of company jets and chauffeurs, home security, country club memberships and professional money management, the AP review of federal securities documents found.
The total amount given to nearly 600 executives would cover bailout costs for many of the 116 banks that have so far accepted tax dollars to boost their bottom lines.
Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee and a long-standing critic of executive largesse, said the bonuses tallied by the AP review amount to a bribe "to get them to do the jobs for which they are well paid in the first place.
"Most of us sign on to do jobs and we do them best we can," said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. "We're told that some of the most highly paid people in executive positions are different. They need extra money to be motivated!"
The AP compiled total compensation based on annual reports that the banks file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 116 banks have so far received $188 billion in taxpayer help. Among the findings:
· The average paid to each of the banks' top executives was $2.6 million in salary, bonuses and benefits.
· Lloyd Blankfein, president and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, took home nearly $54 million in compensation last year. The company's top five executives received a total of $242 million.
This year, Goldman will forgo cash and stock bonuses for its seven top-paid executives. They will work for their base salaries of $600,000, the company said. Facing increasing concern by its own shareholders on executive payments, the company described its pay plan last spring as essential to retain and motivate executives "whose efforts and judgments are vital to our continued success, by setting their compensation at appropriate and competitive levels." Goldman spokesman Ed Canaday declined to comment beyond that written report.
The New York-based company on Dec. 16 reported its first quarterly loss since it went public in 1999. It received $10 billion in taxpayer money on Oct. 28.
· Even where banks cut back on pay, some executives were left with seven- or eight-figure compensation that most people can only dream about. Richard D. Fairbank, the chairman of Capital One Financial Corp., took a $1 million hit in compensation after his company had a disappointing year, but still got $17 million in stock options. The McLean, Va.-based company received $3.56 billion in bailout money on Nov. 14.
· John A. Thain, chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch, topped all corporate bank bosses with $83 million in earnings last year. Thain, a former chief operating officer for Goldman Sachs, took the reins of the company in December 2007, avoiding the blame for a year in which Merrill lost $7.8 billion. Since he began work late in the year, he earned $57,692 in salary, a $15 million signing bonus and an additional $68 million in stock options. Like Goldman, Merrill got $10 billion from taxpayers on Oct. 28.
The AP review comes amid sharp questions about the banks' commitment to the goals of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), a law designed to buy bad mortgages and other troubled assets. Last month, the Bush administration changed the program's goals, instructing the Treasury Department to pump tax dollars directly into banks in a bid to prevent wholesale economic collapse.
$1.6 billion went to bailed-out bank execs
Records show bonuses, chauffeurs, health club benefits, financial planning
updated 12:09 p.m. CT, Mon., Dec. 22, 2008
Banks that are getting taxpayer bailouts awarded their top executives nearly $1.6 billion in salaries, bonuses, and other benefits last year, an Associated Press analysis reveals.
The rewards came even at banks where poor results last year foretold the economic crisis that sent them to Washington for a government rescue. Some trimmed their executive compensation due to lagging bank performance, but still forked over multimillion-dollar executive pay packages.
Benefits included cash bonuses, stock options, personal use of company jets and chauffeurs, home security, country club memberships and professional money management, the AP review of federal securities documents found.
The total amount given to nearly 600 executives would cover bailout costs for many of the 116 banks that have so far accepted tax dollars to boost their bottom lines.
Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee and a long-standing critic of executive largesse, said the bonuses tallied by the AP review amount to a bribe "to get them to do the jobs for which they are well paid in the first place.
"Most of us sign on to do jobs and we do them best we can," said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. "We're told that some of the most highly paid people in executive positions are different. They need extra money to be motivated!"
The AP compiled total compensation based on annual reports that the banks file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 116 banks have so far received $188 billion in taxpayer help. Among the findings:
· The average paid to each of the banks' top executives was $2.6 million in salary, bonuses and benefits.
· Lloyd Blankfein, president and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, took home nearly $54 million in compensation last year. The company's top five executives received a total of $242 million.
This year, Goldman will forgo cash and stock bonuses for its seven top-paid executives. They will work for their base salaries of $600,000, the company said. Facing increasing concern by its own shareholders on executive payments, the company described its pay plan last spring as essential to retain and motivate executives "whose efforts and judgments are vital to our continued success, by setting their compensation at appropriate and competitive levels." Goldman spokesman Ed Canaday declined to comment beyond that written report.
The New York-based company on Dec. 16 reported its first quarterly loss since it went public in 1999. It received $10 billion in taxpayer money on Oct. 28.
· Even where banks cut back on pay, some executives were left with seven- or eight-figure compensation that most people can only dream about. Richard D. Fairbank, the chairman of Capital One Financial Corp., took a $1 million hit in compensation after his company had a disappointing year, but still got $17 million in stock options. The McLean, Va.-based company received $3.56 billion in bailout money on Nov. 14.
· John A. Thain, chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch, topped all corporate bank bosses with $83 million in earnings last year. Thain, a former chief operating officer for Goldman Sachs, took the reins of the company in December 2007, avoiding the blame for a year in which Merrill lost $7.8 billion. Since he began work late in the year, he earned $57,692 in salary, a $15 million signing bonus and an additional $68 million in stock options. Like Goldman, Merrill got $10 billion from taxpayers on Oct. 28.
The AP review comes amid sharp questions about the banks' commitment to the goals of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), a law designed to buy bad mortgages and other troubled assets. Last month, the Bush administration changed the program's goals, instructing the Treasury Department to pump tax dollars directly into banks in a bid to prevent wholesale economic collapse.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Miscellaneous Items
Great Meeting yesterday. Even though only appoximately 20 people attended - we had an excellent discussion on how to better proceed and we even have an upcoming meeting with the Corps. Agenda Notes to follow. Please thank Jerry and Louise for putting together an great agenda.
Des Moines Register Article today on Corps Levee Rebulding for this year:
'Hiccups' mean levees won't be fixed by spring
Gazette Editorial - Does Iowa really want to help their flood victims?
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008712219988
Snow Removal Options
From: Nasseem Moradi [mailto:Nasseem-Moradi@iowa-city.org] Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 11:00 AMTo: Anthony, JerrySubject: snow removal
Hi Jerry – Keri Neblett from the crisis center has a group of volunteers who have offered to shovel the walks in PVT. I was hoping you could get the word out so that people who are interested can contact her and the volunteers will take care of it for them today. Keri can be contacted at kneblett@jccrisiscenter.org or they can call at 351-2726. Thank you! Nasseem
Nasseem Moradi
Flood Recovery
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240-1826
(319) 356-5479 direct
(319) 356-5217 fax
And
Snow Removal
Des Moines Register Article today on Corps Levee Rebulding for this year:
'Hiccups' mean levees won't be fixed by spring
Gazette Editorial - Does Iowa really want to help their flood victims?
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008712219988
Snow Removal Options
From: Nasseem Moradi [mailto:Nasseem-Moradi@iowa-city.org] Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 11:00 AMTo: Anthony, JerrySubject: snow removal
Hi Jerry – Keri Neblett from the crisis center has a group of volunteers who have offered to shovel the walks in PVT. I was hoping you could get the word out so that people who are interested can contact her and the volunteers will take care of it for them today. Keri can be contacted at kneblett@jccrisiscenter.org or they can call at 351-2726. Thank you! Nasseem
Nasseem Moradi
Flood Recovery
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240-1826
(319) 356-5479 direct
(319) 356-5217 fax
And
Snow Removal
Saturday, December 20, 2008
PVT Agenda For Today's Meeting
PVT Meeting Agenda
December 20, 2008
4:00-6:00pm
Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room A
1. Help for rebuilding (Louise)
a) through Crisis Center
b) other agencies
2. Communication between City and PVT – update on recent discussions (Louise)
3. Jan 10 meeting (Jerry)
a) speakers
b) questions for speakers in preparation for Jan 10 meeting
4. Future meetings and process (Jerry)
a) dates
b) objectives
5. Survey of PVT residents about future plans (Louise & Jerry)
a) announcement of block captains
b) questions for survey
c) process for completing it
6. Update on taxes (Louise & Deb)
a) income tax
b) property tax
December 20, 2008
4:00-6:00pm
Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room A
1. Help for rebuilding (Louise)
a) through Crisis Center
b) other agencies
2. Communication between City and PVT – update on recent discussions (Louise)
3. Jan 10 meeting (Jerry)
a) speakers
b) questions for speakers in preparation for Jan 10 meeting
4. Future meetings and process (Jerry)
a) dates
b) objectives
5. Survey of PVT residents about future plans (Louise & Jerry)
a) announcement of block captains
b) questions for survey
c) process for completing it
6. Update on taxes (Louise & Deb)
a) income tax
b) property tax
Friday, December 19, 2008
Get Your Walk Shoveled today
Hi Jerry – Keri Neblett from the crisis center has a group of volunteers who have offered to shovel the walks in PVT. I was hoping you could get the word out so that people who are interested can contact her and the volunteers will take care of it for them today. Keri can be contacted at kneblett@jccrisiscenter.org or they can call at 351-2726. Thank you! Nasseem
Thursday, December 18, 2008
ICPC Guest Opinions
From the ICPC - Guest Opinion Wed Dec 17th, 2008
Looking back on the disaster
Wishing the sun would come out again
Learning the lessons of the floods of 1993, 2008
Thanks to all those who remember and continue to support the flood victims of 2008
Looking back on the disaster
Wishing the sun would come out again
Learning the lessons of the floods of 1993, 2008
Thanks to all those who remember and continue to support the flood victims of 2008
Next Meeting Dec 20th IC Pub Lib 4 to 6
Next meeting of the PVT neighborhood is this Saturday, December 20 at the IOWA CITY Public Library -- Meeting Room A (from 4:00-6:00pm). Best. --- Jerry
Agenda to follow.
Agenda to follow.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Will it happen again?
Link to Will it Happen again for Cedar Rapids
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081214/NEWS/312149998/1006
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081214/NEWS/312149998/1006
Meeting Notes December 6th
Highlights of Parkview Terrace neighborhood meeting
Saturday, December 6, at Coralville Public Library
About 30 people in attendance.
Main speaker was George Hollins, University of Iowa business manager, speaking in his capacity as an experienced hydrology engineer (Iowa State graduate, worked with Iowa Natural Resources Council and as West Des Moins city engineer, specializing in groundwater and floodplain regulation, bridge and hydraulic structure design, and the like). Also present on behalf of the City of Iowa City was Rick Fosse, director of public works.
Hollins made these points:
Why do we develop on floodplains in the first place? People settle where transportation is convenient, e.g.,, on water; where land is flat; where water supplies and waste disposal methods are available.
“What we think we know sometimes isn’t reality.” We’re “brainwashed” into thinking about 100-year frequency floods, but even small rivers have big floods. Current stats are not necessarily based on a solid record (though Iowa’s is longer than most). With each flood, the calculations (e.g., the figure for 100-year flow in Iowa River, raised from 25,000 cfs pre-1993 to 29,000 as result of 2002 study) are increased, and will increase again; storms and climate change will keep pushing the figure up. Hydrology also doesn’t account for development in rural areas. He cautioned against having a “false sense of security,” and said the nature of future storms is an unknown, and the state of maintenance also cannot be predicted.
Definitions (with x-section drawing) of floodplain, floodway and river channel – the floodplain is the area from “bluff to bluff” on either side of the river; the floodway is the area covered with water if the river rises one foot above normal flow. the national flood insurance program allows building in the floodplain, premised on the idea that you can build on the “floodway fringe” to the point where what is called the “backwash” rises one foot. That’s why building permits in the 100-year floodplain require a one-foot elevation of the first finished floor. With a permit, you can still do lots of things in the floodplain. But the middle section, the floodway, has to be preserved with no construction. These demarcations also designate where mitigation works need to be situated.
Iowa rivers have interesting peculiarities. Mostly they are big and flat—so what’s called “subcritical” flow is most important – as opposed to “subcritical” flow (e.g., whitewater). Velocity changes don’t usually go subcritical except in spots like below the Burlington St. Dam. Contrary to what one might believe, silt is not that important in floods—in our case, the Coralville Dam releases what’s called “hungry water” without a “bedload” (i.e., silt is trapped behind the dam), and the water cuts a channel and picks up sediment as it goes along. (Sediment behind the dam is another question.)
[Fosse said in fact the river bottom in the Iowa City area is getting deeper; and IC monitors the beds around bridges to make sure the footings don’t get scoured.]
One advantage we have—or should have—is the luxury of warning time; we can anticipate flooding based on outflow from the Coralville Dam. So why, some people wonder, was there such sudden evacuation of Normandy Drive residents last summer? Sounds like people have to make their own calculations—we need to know the relationship of river outflow with depth downstream in our neighborhood, and monitor the river outflow at.
We’re referred to the Association of State Floodplain Managers—which has a website, a lobby and some good white papers. For any flood mitigation structures, this organization advises designing to 500 years and a “freeboard” (additional height).
A bit of talk about the Army Corps of Engineers—seems unlikely they could have averted flooding, but could have let more water out earlier. In 1993, eleven times the volume of the reservoir passed through the dam, and it was even more in 2008. The Corps in the past has been “cooperative and willing to share information,” but they are in a no-win situation since they must answer to so many constituencies—recreational interests, farmers downstream, various communities, modulation with the Cedar River, public policy issues, etc.
Examples of various flood control structures may be found on the web—such as temporary portable coffer dams, which may not be so great; Hesco-barrier type structures, up to 12 feet high, which may be permanent or temporary; an “invisible wall,” or floodways that come out in sections on a permanent base, also to a height of 12 feet; and your basic earthen levee, with a floodwall and footing in the center. Costs vary a great deal and depend on material, depth of excavation required, and so on.
[Fosse said the PVT area has problems with porous soils and sands; the city is working with Stanley Consultants to develop a range of options. The city also is working with FEMA to get funding for long-term recovery, and is considering the raising of Dubuque St. and Park Road Bridge.]
Next PVT neighborhood meeting will be Saturday, December 20th, 3:30 pm, at the Iowa City Public Library; and then on January 10th, we’ll meet with Iowa City officials, place to be announced.
Saturday, December 6, at Coralville Public Library
About 30 people in attendance.
Main speaker was George Hollins, University of Iowa business manager, speaking in his capacity as an experienced hydrology engineer (Iowa State graduate, worked with Iowa Natural Resources Council and as West Des Moins city engineer, specializing in groundwater and floodplain regulation, bridge and hydraulic structure design, and the like). Also present on behalf of the City of Iowa City was Rick Fosse, director of public works.
Hollins made these points:
Why do we develop on floodplains in the first place? People settle where transportation is convenient, e.g.,, on water; where land is flat; where water supplies and waste disposal methods are available.
“What we think we know sometimes isn’t reality.” We’re “brainwashed” into thinking about 100-year frequency floods, but even small rivers have big floods. Current stats are not necessarily based on a solid record (though Iowa’s is longer than most). With each flood, the calculations (e.g., the figure for 100-year flow in Iowa River, raised from 25,000 cfs pre-1993 to 29,000 as result of 2002 study) are increased, and will increase again; storms and climate change will keep pushing the figure up. Hydrology also doesn’t account for development in rural areas. He cautioned against having a “false sense of security,” and said the nature of future storms is an unknown, and the state of maintenance also cannot be predicted.
Definitions (with x-section drawing) of floodplain, floodway and river channel – the floodplain is the area from “bluff to bluff” on either side of the river; the floodway is the area covered with water if the river rises one foot above normal flow. the national flood insurance program allows building in the floodplain, premised on the idea that you can build on the “floodway fringe” to the point where what is called the “backwash” rises one foot. That’s why building permits in the 100-year floodplain require a one-foot elevation of the first finished floor. With a permit, you can still do lots of things in the floodplain. But the middle section, the floodway, has to be preserved with no construction. These demarcations also designate where mitigation works need to be situated.
Iowa rivers have interesting peculiarities. Mostly they are big and flat—so what’s called “subcritical” flow is most important – as opposed to “subcritical” flow (e.g., whitewater). Velocity changes don’t usually go subcritical except in spots like below the Burlington St. Dam. Contrary to what one might believe, silt is not that important in floods—in our case, the Coralville Dam releases what’s called “hungry water” without a “bedload” (i.e., silt is trapped behind the dam), and the water cuts a channel and picks up sediment as it goes along. (Sediment behind the dam is another question.)
[Fosse said in fact the river bottom in the Iowa City area is getting deeper; and IC monitors the beds around bridges to make sure the footings don’t get scoured.]
One advantage we have—or should have—is the luxury of warning time; we can anticipate flooding based on outflow from the Coralville Dam. So why, some people wonder, was there such sudden evacuation of Normandy Drive residents last summer? Sounds like people have to make their own calculations—we need to know the relationship of river outflow with depth downstream in our neighborhood, and monitor the river outflow at
We’re referred to the Association of State Floodplain Managers—which has a website, a lobby and some good white papers. For any flood mitigation structures, this organization advises designing to 500 years and a “freeboard” (additional height).
A bit of talk about the Army Corps of Engineers—seems unlikely they could have averted flooding, but could have let more water out earlier. In 1993, eleven times the volume of the reservoir passed through the dam, and it was even more in 2008. The Corps in the past has been “cooperative and willing to share information,” but they are in a no-win situation since they must answer to so many constituencies—recreational interests, farmers downstream, various communities, modulation with the Cedar River, public policy issues, etc.
Examples of various flood control structures may be found on the web—such as temporary portable coffer dams, which may not be so great; Hesco-barrier type structures, up to 12 feet high, which may be permanent or temporary; an “invisible wall,” or floodways that come out in sections on a permanent base, also to a height of 12 feet; and your basic earthen levee, with a floodwall and footing in the center. Costs vary a great deal and depend on material, depth of excavation required, and so on.
[Fosse said the PVT area has problems with porous soils and sands; the city is working with Stanley Consultants to develop a range of options. The city also is working with FEMA to get funding for long-term recovery, and is considering the raising of Dubuque St. and Park Road Bridge.]
Next PVT neighborhood meeting will be Saturday, December 20th, 3:30 pm, at the Iowa City Public Library; and then on January 10th, we’ll meet with Iowa City officials, place to be announced.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Interested Buyer for Properties In PVT
Our realtor has an interested buyer for some property like ours down in Parkview Terrace. We had a great experience with her, and I was hoping you could send out an email to those individuals who are selling by owner consider connecting with her. Her name is Sharon Asari from Coldwell Banker, and she was successful in selling our house for a favorable rate to both the buyer and seller. She can be reached at 319-331-4577.
I want to be very clear that I have no financial interest in any of this, I just wanted to forward this on to connect a possible buyer with a possible seller…
Good luck with your house!
Mike
I want to be very clear that I have no financial interest in any of this, I just wanted to forward this on to connect a possible buyer with a possible seller…
Good luck with your house!
Mike
Jumpstart Express - Will this help Iowa City flood victims?
Jumpstart Express announced - See Daily Iowan link
Gov. Culver talks on flood relief
City still unsure who will be eligible for this funds and why others may not be.
Link to Iowa City's memo to the City Council regarding Jumpstart Express
Flood Recovery & Buyout Update
Gov. Culver talks on flood relief
City still unsure who will be eligible for this funds and why others may not be.
Link to Iowa City's memo to the City Council regarding Jumpstart Express
Flood Recovery & Buyout Update
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Snow Removal
I (and others) have talked to the city about the issue of shoveling. It has come up in some meetings and they have looked into the issue. Unfortunately, there is not much they can do for us in terms of waiving the requirement, or shoveling for us. They just don't have the staff. I did call a friend who does snow removal. I explained that, he doesn't have to come early, but it does have to be done within the city's time limits. His name is Rick Kron (Kron Lawn Care) 331-2592. He told me he charges $28 for sidewalk and drive, $14 for just the sidewalk.
Lore
Lore
Property Taxes Update
It would probably be best to first explain how Iowa property tax laws work. Assessors re-value real estate at market value every two years as of January first of each odd-numbered year. That value remains in place for two years unless there is a change in the property by January first of the even-numbered year. Assessments are finalized on April 15th and formal protests may be made to the board of review by May 5th. After that date there can be no change to the assessment if an appeal has not been filed.
Taxes are collected in arrears, so the tax bill you receive actually pays the taxes for the previous year. The January 1, 2007 assessment was used to calculate taxes for the July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 property taxes. This bill is payable in September of 2008 and March of 2009. The January 1, 2008 assessment will be used to calculate taxes for the July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 property taxes. That bill will be payable in September of 2009 and March of 2010.
All of this is to explain that since the flood occurred in June, after the assessment date, the first opportunity for us to address the flood damage to your property will be at the January 1, 2009 assessment. We plan to look at each flood-affected property as near to January first as possible to determine the amount of damage. We will also be studying sales in these areas for any loss in value due to “stigma,” or buyers’ fear of future flooding. Many of the decisions we make will require judgment on our part, and we plan to be as understanding as possible when it comes to final value.
While we’re sympathetic to your very serious problems, we are limited by law in what we can do to help.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Dennis Baldridge
Iowa City Assessor
Taxes are collected in arrears, so the tax bill you receive actually pays the taxes for the previous year. The January 1, 2007 assessment was used to calculate taxes for the July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 property taxes. This bill is payable in September of 2008 and March of 2009. The January 1, 2008 assessment will be used to calculate taxes for the July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 property taxes. That bill will be payable in September of 2009 and March of 2010.
All of this is to explain that since the flood occurred in June, after the assessment date, the first opportunity for us to address the flood damage to your property will be at the January 1, 2009 assessment. We plan to look at each flood-affected property as near to January first as possible to determine the amount of damage. We will also be studying sales in these areas for any loss in value due to “stigma,” or buyers’ fear of future flooding. Many of the decisions we make will require judgment on our part, and we plan to be as understanding as possible when it comes to final value.
While we’re sympathetic to your very serious problems, we are limited by law in what we can do to help.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Dennis Baldridge
Iowa City Assessor
Friday, December 5, 2008
PVT Meeting Agenda December 6
PVT Meeting Agenda
December 6, 2008
3:00 PM
Coralville Public Library Meeting Room A
1) Introduction (Steve McGuire)
2) Communication
a) City Updates (Steve McGuire)
3) Flood Assistance Funds
a) CDBG Roadblock Update (Jerry Anthony)
4) Flood Mitigation Measures
a) Flood Walls and Berms 101 (George Hollins, University Business Manager)
5) Future Meetings and Agenda Items (Steve McGuire)
a) Proposed meetings
i) Early January: Public forum on flood mitigation with cities, University,
state agencies
b) Other meeting times and topics
6) Rebuilding Tips
a) Property Taxes (Bob Irwin)
b) Help from community organizations (Morris Dailey)
c) Contractor recommendations (Morris Dailey)
December 6, 2008
3:00 PM
Coralville Public Library Meeting Room A
1) Introduction (Steve McGuire)
2) Communication
a) City Updates (Steve McGuire)
3) Flood Assistance Funds
a) CDBG Roadblock Update (Jerry Anthony)
4) Flood Mitigation Measures
a) Flood Walls and Berms 101 (George Hollins, University Business Manager)
5) Future Meetings and Agenda Items (Steve McGuire)
a) Proposed meetings
i) Early January: Public forum on flood mitigation with cities, University,
state agencies
b) Other meeting times and topics
6) Rebuilding Tips
a) Property Taxes (Bob Irwin)
b) Help from community organizations (Morris Dailey)
c) Contractor recommendations (Morris Dailey)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Dec 6 Meeting - 3 PM - Coralville Public Library
Email from Steve McGuire
On Saturday December 6, 3pm at the Coralville Public Library, George Hollins, University Business Manager, will present an overview of flood mitigation walls and berms. Significantly, George is also both a hydrologist and engineer who has worked for the DNR on projects that potentially may be proposed for PVT. He has been asked by the State to join a seven member committee reviewing State flood plain management and rivers, and it is terrific - he will present to us, "Flood Walls and Berms 101."
On Saturday December 6, 3pm at the Coralville Public Library, George Hollins, University Business Manager, will present an overview of flood mitigation walls and berms. Significantly, George is also both a hydrologist and engineer who has worked for the DNR on projects that potentially may be proposed for PVT. He has been asked by the State to join a seven member committee reviewing State flood plain management and rivers, and it is terrific - he will present to us, "Flood Walls and Berms 101."
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Article from Gazzette today
Will recovery aid be enough to fix Iowa?
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081126/NEWS/711269956/1006
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081126/NEWS/711269956/1006
Monday, November 24, 2008
Cedar Rapids Starts New Flood Campaign - PVT and Iowa City should do the same
While Iowa City has been able to begin to partially address the needs of many of the flood victims - more help (assistance) is needed as many of us are still struggling from PVT. We need to continue to make our situation known and not forgotten.
Cedar Rapids Wants to Start New Flood Campaign
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/35039064.html
Cedar Rapids Needs Help from Federal Lawmakers Outside Iowa
http://www.cedar-rapids.org/community/NewsDetail.asp?NewsID=1407
While the numbers are significant, the many of the flood victims in Iowa City are in the same boat as the flood victims from CR.
One of the topics discussed at our last meeting was starting our own campaign - more details to follow soon after the notes are posted.
Cedar Rapids Wants to Start New Flood Campaign
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/35039064.html
Cedar Rapids Needs Help from Federal Lawmakers Outside Iowa
http://www.cedar-rapids.org/community/NewsDetail.asp?NewsID=1407
While the numbers are significant, the many of the flood victims in Iowa City are in the same boat as the flood victims from CR.
One of the topics discussed at our last meeting was starting our own campaign - more details to follow soon after the notes are posted.
PTV Meeting Notes 11/22/2008 and Property Taxes
It was a great meeting and we had about 40 - whoops - 25 in attendance. See notes below.
Property Taxes - The automatic increase has been sent out by the county. The county has confirmed the property values in PVT have dropped substantially and are promising to adjust them hopefully starting in December. More details to follow.
Highlights of Parkview Terrace neighborhood meeting of Saturday, November 22, 2008, in Coralville Public Library downstairs meeting room—a lovely venue!
The meeting lasted from 3:40 to 5:45, with about 25 people in attendance. The two main topics were flood assistance funds, with information provided by Jerry Anthony, and flood mitigation planning, with information from Africa Espina. People also talked about communication and coordination needs.
Early on, a question was raised: Do differing interests of those hoping for a buyout and those rebuilding and planning to stay in the neighborhood necessitate separate conversations?
Responses: Some say we need to stick together and work together regardless. Others say those awaiting buyout don’t yet have any guarantee that will happen. (Some people still wonder.)
There was a bit of discussion about a need for better communications between residents and Iowa City government, since people tend to hear things second- and third-hand, leading to miscommunication and wasted time for everyone. The city has agreed to provide PVT residents with regular weekly updates about funds and other issues.
(1) Flood assistance funds: Jerry Anthony—a UI faculty member in urban and regional planning, who has served on and chaired the IC Community Development Committee that gives out housing rehabilitation grants, and also is on the housing task force of the state Rebuild Iowa Commission—gave an overview of what he knows about city/state/federal funds and disbursement.
First, Jumpstart—it’s entirely state funds intended to provide immediate relief after floods; the governor’s office set the guidelines, including not imposing income limits and providing households with help to the maximum extent possible, rather than divvying up the money and spreading it around further. The state has an odd explanation of this system—making the analogy of providing a disabled car with four wheels rather than just one (which everyone agrees is a ridiculous comparison, but oh well).
As for criteria for rating applicants – the city has been using a weighting system (accounting for elderly, disabled, family size and single head of household) that worked for other programs in the past. Alternatives other communities have proposed are no better—a lottery system has been ruled illegal, and first-come first-served is legal but also would prompt complaints. The main problem is not in the allocation system, but in the lack of discussion ahead of time—as indeed there is no good alternative. These grants do subtract for FEMA and insurance money (secretary’s note: one of my neighbors with top priority got all of $10 K).
Next, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which is federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) money, under a program that has been around since 1974. Under this longstanding program, IC has always been an “entitlement community,” meaning it gets allocations automatically and the city itself administers the program with fewer strings attached than for non-entitlement communities.
On top of regular funding there is a special disaster allocation via the state, which to date has been imposing requirements that ordinarily don’t apply to an entitlement community: (a) requirement for lead-based paint abatement in structures built prior to 1978, which adds considerable time and expense; (b) requirement that rehabilitated housing be brought up to code, with advance evidence of availability of extra money to do so; and (c) state’s desire to monitor against “double-dipping,” i.e., making sure that money from different sources, including FEMA, Jumpstart and insurance, isn’t duplicated. The city is asking for a flood-related emergency exemption from (a); and for authority to monitor (b) and (c) at the local level on the basis of its longstanding entitlement status and good record managing funds under this program.
CDBG money is targeted at lower-income households, with the regular guideline for eligibility set at 80% of the median income for the area (so the actual amount will vary depending on area). For the post-flood grants, the state is raising the limit to 100%, and there’s talk of an additional round of disaster-related allocations that would raise it further to 110% in order to help more households—perhaps another 20 or 30 families.
Both Jumpstart and CDBG grants carry a “declining balance loan” condition—meaning that the amount is forgiven in increments over either 5 or 10 years, after which it zeros out. The payback period for these allocations has been set at 10 years; people wondered whether it could be set at 5—another question.
A third funding sources is the Community Foundation of Johnson County, funded by private businesses; a recent call for extra flood contributions collected $50,000 in just a week. That amount has been made available to the city for rental and mortgage assistance for those rebuilding and returning, and letters allocating that money have gone out to 16 people. The foundation likely will be raising more.
There should be additional disaster assistance money coming from the federal government, with a couple of bills yet to be finalized—including a multi-billion-dollar bill yet to be signed by President Bush that will make $35 million for flood recovery available locally (secretary’s aside—the president signed a $700-billion Wall Street bailout bill with such alacrity, yet a common-citizen relief package sits around...? jeesh).
(2) Flood mitigation measures: Jerry Anthony first noted that unlike Coralville or Cedar Rapids governments, which tend to move faster, Iowa City’s mode is more consultative and defers to residents’ preferences—so it is in PVT folks’ interests to develop a vision for the neighborhood and present it as a group in the next few weeks. He listed the following types of mitigation options: (a) engineering and construction measures; (b) physical land/use, zoning and planning measures; (c) economic measures, i.e., incentives and disincentives, such as a storm water drainage tax; (d) environmental and resource protection; (e) emergency services; (f) management and institutional measures. Given the property tax income the PVT neighborhood supplies, it’s obviously in the city’s best interests to protect against future flood damage, and the city council indeed has agreed to do something!
Africa Espina—UI-trained environmental engineer with hydrology expertise who works for Stanley Consultants—addressed the engineering and construction issues. There will be review of the current maps of the 100- and 500-year floodplain, which are based on past events and don’t account for climate change.
Meanwhile, the city is looking into three strategies for PVT flood mitigation—(a) buying out the eligible homes, along with elevating four remaining homes; (b) the buyout/elevation and improved access in the eventuality of a flood through road elevation, probably at the bends of Normandy where the pumps were placed; and (c) the buyout/elevation plus protection with an engineered option.
That engineered option might be an earthen levee—which requires lots of space and sounds unlikely; or fixed or demountable floodwalls. The demountable type requires preplaced concrete foundations, with space needed for those also and heavy truck access; and in case of anticipated flooding the city can bring in metal sheets and raise a temporary wall. The estimated cost for this type of solution is $11.8-15.5 million for 500-year flood protection for PVT, and some $27 million for Taft and PVT combined. Another idea is so-called “Hesco barriers”—blast barriers developed for Iraq that are essentially cardboard filled with gravel, and that have proved good for flood control.
The city is considering hiring a consultant to work with the neighborhood on developing plans, but that’s not decided yet. The city also has yet to formalize a position on the properties that are eligible but refuse buyout funds—it’s thought that 5 to 7 homeowners along the river want to stay, meaning complications for right-of-way and also the likelihood that they’d be left outside any flood protection barriers.
Doug Jones—computer science prof at UI, and author of ingenious and thoughtful concepts for flood protection presented earlier—noted two measures the city could take that would help protect PVT: raising North Dubuque Street, which would enable increased outflow from the Coralville Dam; and fixing the Park Road bridge so it wouldn’t became a debris trap.
Steve McGuire—UI professor of art coordinating studio arts move to old Menards store—discussed the need for a public forum to discuss coordination among Coralville, Iowa City, UI and the Army Corps of Engineers. Such a forum is supposed to be scheduled.
There was more talk about that coffer dam UI put in the river, including the allegation that it made a huge difference in flooding upstream—but note that this contradicts earlier calculations that it made a negligible difference (including that of Frank Weirich in our hydrology 101 tutorial).
However—a new twist: Sewer lines located under the river in the area of the coffer dam are in need of repair as a result of the flood, which scoured the channel and left the sewer crossings in mid-water rather than resting on the bottom. Doug Jones said three sewer lines below the coffee dam are affected, but only one of them is in danger of collapse because the other two are plugged and not in use. Steve McGuire reported that the university has said the coffer dam should be removed by next March. Others said the university needs to have a system to dismantle or destroy coffer dams in case of emergencies, which evidently was not possible with this one.
A suggestion—ask our Congressional delegation to provide a dedicated staff person for helping to coordinate among all parties as well as the feds.
Property Taxes - The automatic increase has been sent out by the county. The county has confirmed the property values in PVT have dropped substantially and are promising to adjust them hopefully starting in December. More details to follow.
Highlights of Parkview Terrace neighborhood meeting of Saturday, November 22, 2008, in Coralville Public Library downstairs meeting room—a lovely venue!
The meeting lasted from 3:40 to 5:45, with about 25 people in attendance. The two main topics were flood assistance funds, with information provided by Jerry Anthony, and flood mitigation planning, with information from Africa Espina. People also talked about communication and coordination needs.
Early on, a question was raised: Do differing interests of those hoping for a buyout and those rebuilding and planning to stay in the neighborhood necessitate separate conversations?
Responses: Some say we need to stick together and work together regardless. Others say those awaiting buyout don’t yet have any guarantee that will happen. (Some people still wonder.)
There was a bit of discussion about a need for better communications between residents and Iowa City government, since people tend to hear things second- and third-hand, leading to miscommunication and wasted time for everyone. The city has agreed to provide PVT residents with regular weekly updates about funds and other issues.
(1) Flood assistance funds: Jerry Anthony—a UI faculty member in urban and regional planning, who has served on and chaired the IC Community Development Committee that gives out housing rehabilitation grants, and also is on the housing task force of the state Rebuild Iowa Commission—gave an overview of what he knows about city/state/federal funds and disbursement.
First, Jumpstart—it’s entirely state funds intended to provide immediate relief after floods; the governor’s office set the guidelines, including not imposing income limits and providing households with help to the maximum extent possible, rather than divvying up the money and spreading it around further. The state has an odd explanation of this system—making the analogy of providing a disabled car with four wheels rather than just one (which everyone agrees is a ridiculous comparison, but oh well).
As for criteria for rating applicants – the city has been using a weighting system (accounting for elderly, disabled, family size and single head of household) that worked for other programs in the past. Alternatives other communities have proposed are no better—a lottery system has been ruled illegal, and first-come first-served is legal but also would prompt complaints. The main problem is not in the allocation system, but in the lack of discussion ahead of time—as indeed there is no good alternative. These grants do subtract for FEMA and insurance money (secretary’s note: one of my neighbors with top priority got all of $10 K).
Next, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which is federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) money, under a program that has been around since 1974. Under this longstanding program, IC has always been an “entitlement community,” meaning it gets allocations automatically and the city itself administers the program with fewer strings attached than for non-entitlement communities.
On top of regular funding there is a special disaster allocation via the state, which to date has been imposing requirements that ordinarily don’t apply to an entitlement community: (a) requirement for lead-based paint abatement in structures built prior to 1978, which adds considerable time and expense; (b) requirement that rehabilitated housing be brought up to code, with advance evidence of availability of extra money to do so; and (c) state’s desire to monitor against “double-dipping,” i.e., making sure that money from different sources, including FEMA, Jumpstart and insurance, isn’t duplicated. The city is asking for a flood-related emergency exemption from (a); and for authority to monitor (b) and (c) at the local level on the basis of its longstanding entitlement status and good record managing funds under this program.
CDBG money is targeted at lower-income households, with the regular guideline for eligibility set at 80% of the median income for the area (so the actual amount will vary depending on area). For the post-flood grants, the state is raising the limit to 100%, and there’s talk of an additional round of disaster-related allocations that would raise it further to 110% in order to help more households—perhaps another 20 or 30 families.
Both Jumpstart and CDBG grants carry a “declining balance loan” condition—meaning that the amount is forgiven in increments over either 5 or 10 years, after which it zeros out. The payback period for these allocations has been set at 10 years; people wondered whether it could be set at 5—another question.
A third funding sources is the Community Foundation of Johnson County, funded by private businesses; a recent call for extra flood contributions collected $50,000 in just a week. That amount has been made available to the city for rental and mortgage assistance for those rebuilding and returning, and letters allocating that money have gone out to 16 people. The foundation likely will be raising more.
There should be additional disaster assistance money coming from the federal government, with a couple of bills yet to be finalized—including a multi-billion-dollar bill yet to be signed by President Bush that will make $35 million for flood recovery available locally (secretary’s aside—the president signed a $700-billion Wall Street bailout bill with such alacrity, yet a common-citizen relief package sits around...? jeesh).
(2) Flood mitigation measures: Jerry Anthony first noted that unlike Coralville or Cedar Rapids governments, which tend to move faster, Iowa City’s mode is more consultative and defers to residents’ preferences—so it is in PVT folks’ interests to develop a vision for the neighborhood and present it as a group in the next few weeks. He listed the following types of mitigation options: (a) engineering and construction measures; (b) physical land/use, zoning and planning measures; (c) economic measures, i.e., incentives and disincentives, such as a storm water drainage tax; (d) environmental and resource protection; (e) emergency services; (f) management and institutional measures. Given the property tax income the PVT neighborhood supplies, it’s obviously in the city’s best interests to protect against future flood damage, and the city council indeed has agreed to do something!
Africa Espina—UI-trained environmental engineer with hydrology expertise who works for Stanley Consultants—addressed the engineering and construction issues. There will be review of the current maps of the 100- and 500-year floodplain, which are based on past events and don’t account for climate change.
Meanwhile, the city is looking into three strategies for PVT flood mitigation—(a) buying out the eligible homes, along with elevating four remaining homes; (b) the buyout/elevation and improved access in the eventuality of a flood through road elevation, probably at the bends of Normandy where the pumps were placed; and (c) the buyout/elevation plus protection with an engineered option.
That engineered option might be an earthen levee—which requires lots of space and sounds unlikely; or fixed or demountable floodwalls. The demountable type requires preplaced concrete foundations, with space needed for those also and heavy truck access; and in case of anticipated flooding the city can bring in metal sheets and raise a temporary wall. The estimated cost for this type of solution is $11.8-15.5 million for 500-year flood protection for PVT, and some $27 million for Taft and PVT combined. Another idea is so-called “Hesco barriers”—blast barriers developed for Iraq that are essentially cardboard filled with gravel, and that have proved good for flood control.
The city is considering hiring a consultant to work with the neighborhood on developing plans, but that’s not decided yet. The city also has yet to formalize a position on the properties that are eligible but refuse buyout funds—it’s thought that 5 to 7 homeowners along the river want to stay, meaning complications for right-of-way and also the likelihood that they’d be left outside any flood protection barriers.
Doug Jones—computer science prof at UI, and author of ingenious and thoughtful concepts for flood protection presented earlier—noted two measures the city could take that would help protect PVT: raising North Dubuque Street, which would enable increased outflow from the Coralville Dam; and fixing the Park Road bridge so it wouldn’t became a debris trap.
Steve McGuire—UI professor of art coordinating studio arts move to old Menards store—discussed the need for a public forum to discuss coordination among Coralville, Iowa City, UI and the Army Corps of Engineers. Such a forum is supposed to be scheduled.
There was more talk about that coffer dam UI put in the river, including the allegation that it made a huge difference in flooding upstream—but note that this contradicts earlier calculations that it made a negligible difference (including that of Frank Weirich in our hydrology 101 tutorial).
However—a new twist: Sewer lines located under the river in the area of the coffer dam are in need of repair as a result of the flood, which scoured the channel and left the sewer crossings in mid-water rather than resting on the bottom. Doug Jones said three sewer lines below the coffee dam are affected, but only one of them is in danger of collapse because the other two are plugged and not in use. Steve McGuire reported that the university has said the coffer dam should be removed by next March. Others said the university needs to have a system to dismantle or destroy coffer dams in case of emergencies, which evidently was not possible with this one.
A suggestion—ask our Congressional delegation to provide a dedicated staff person for helping to coordinate among all parties as well as the feds.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
PVT Meeting Agenda Nov 22 3:30 - 5:00
PVT Meeting Agenda 1. Introduction (Steve McGuire) 2. Communication (Steve McGuire and Jerry Anthony?) a. Potential City Updates b. Within the neighborhood and Iowa City 3. Flood Assistance Funds (Jerry Anthony) a. Jumpstart b. CDBG i. Current problems and distribution hold up ii. Eligibility 4. Flood Mitigation Measures a. Community visioning process and timeline (Jerry Anthony) b. Current City strategy (Africa Espina) c. Coordination between Iowa City, Coralville, University, and state agencies (Steve McGuire) 5. Future Meetings and Agenda Items (Steve McGuire) a. Proposed meetings i. December 6: Large scale flood coordination by George Hollens, UI Business Manager ii. Early January: Public forum on flood mitigation with cities, University, state agencies b. Other meeting times and topics 6. Rebuilding Tips (Morris) a. Help from community organizations b. Contractor recommendations
November 22, 2008
Coralville Public Library Meeting Room A
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Neighborhood Meeting Saturday Nov 22
----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony, Jerry
To: PTV Neighborhood
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:33 PM
Subject: Next neighborhood meeting is THIS Saturday
Dear All:
Our next neighborhood meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, November 22. From 3:30 – 5:00pm at the Coralville Public Library (Meeting Room A). Please note the location. A meeting agenda will be sent out later this week. -- Jerry
From: Anthony, Jerry
To: PTV Neighborhood
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:33 PM
Subject: Next neighborhood meeting is THIS Saturday
Dear All:
Our next neighborhood meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, November 22. From 3:30 – 5:00pm at the Coralville Public Library (Meeting Room A). Please note the location. A meeting agenda will be sent out later this week. -- Jerry
Good News - Mayor Bailey Steps Up to Bat
Government Red Tape Hindering Help for Flooded Out Homeowners
IOWA CITY - Some cities in eastern Iowa say government red tape is preventing them from getting federal money to many flood victims. Iowa City and Waterloo, among others, are all frustrated with the... Read more »
IOWA CITY - Some cities in eastern Iowa say government red tape is preventing them from getting federal money to many flood victims. Iowa City and Waterloo, among others, are all frustrated with the... Read more »
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
New Jumpstart List Published
CDBG Flood recovery funds and levels of assistance are based on federal guidelines. The applicant must:1. Be the owner of record and have occupied the home as their primary residence during the flood of 2008;2. Must be at or under 100% of the median income for the City of Iowa City: Single = $50,800; 2 person household = $58,000; 3 person household = $65,300; 4 person household = $72,600; 5 person household = $78,400; 6 person household = $84,200; 7 person household = $90,000; 8 person household = $95,800.
(learn more)
At its October 6, 2008, work session, the City Council discussed how to rank the applicants for Jumpstart and CDBG assistance. City Council directed staff to use the system based on weighting criteria that has been employed for many years in making decisions about who will receive CDBG assistance for rehabilitation and home repair. The City's weighting criteria are: elderly, disabled, large family, medium family, and single parent household.
Memo from City Attorney re: Jumpstart/CDBG Weighting Criteria (11-5-08)
Jumpstart Applicant List (weighted rankings) (rev. 11-13-08)
(learn more)
At its October 6, 2008, work session, the City Council discussed how to rank the applicants for Jumpstart and CDBG assistance. City Council directed staff to use the system based on weighting criteria that has been employed for many years in making decisions about who will receive CDBG assistance for rehabilitation and home repair. The City's weighting criteria are: elderly, disabled, large family, medium family, and single parent household.
Memo from City Attorney re: Jumpstart/CDBG Weighting Criteria (11-5-08)
Jumpstart Applicant List (weighted rankings) (rev. 11-13-08)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Iowa City Council Meetings and Work Sessions
Link to Iowa City's Council Meetings and Work Sessions this week.
http://www.icgov.org/default/apps/council/agendas.asp
http://www.icgov.org/default/apps/council/agendas.asp
Friday, November 14, 2008
Iowa City on the move - no one is sure what their intentions really are
From the Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Iowa City looking at long-term flood plans
Former residents of Parkview Terrace are still asked to wait 5 months after the flood while the City tries to figure out what it will do.
City still insists helping less than 10% of the applicants for flood assistance is the right thing to do as they are not sure what their plans are.
Iowa City looking at long-term flood plans
Former residents of Parkview Terrace are still asked to wait 5 months after the flood while the City tries to figure out what it will do.
City still insists helping less than 10% of the applicants for flood assistance is the right thing to do as they are not sure what their plans are.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Coralville forges ahead further endangering Parkview Terrace
Coralville forges ahead with plans to increase the flood risk in Parkview Terrace - No response from Iowa City. Cities still have no meeting scheduled to coordinate flood plans putting the residents in Iowa City at greater risk with future flooding.
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/34367804.html
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/34367804.html
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Volunteer Help offered
Email from Louise Novak
Dear Louise,
Would you please make sure the announcement below is posted on the Parkview Terrace web page? We are trying to line up work for groups coming to Iowa City/Coralville in the next few weeks. We would also be interested to know about any individuals or families you believe we should contact directly.
Thanks for your help!
Mark
Do You Need Volunteer Help for Cleanup, Winterizing or Rebuilding?
The Disaster Relief Coordinators for United Way of Johnson County, Mark and Carol Martin, are looking for flood victims who would benefit from volunteer assistance in the coming weeks. A group of 35 volunteers from the Illinois State University School of Social Work will be in Iowa City from November 21-26, and they are hoping to help folks winterize or rebuild. Other groups are scheduled to follow them. If you have any kind of need, please contact Mark and Carol at 337-8657 (the United Way Volunteer Center), 354-1174 (their home) or 330-3030 (Mark's cell phone). They may be reached by email at mmartin@unitedwayjc.org, or pastormwm@mchsi.com.
Mark and Carol Martin
Disaster Relief Coordinators
United Way of Johnson County
1150 Sunset St.
Iowa City, IA 52246
Home: 319-354-1174
Mark's cell: 319-330-3030
Carol's cell: 319-330-5310
Email: pastormwm@mchsi.com, icmartin@mchsi.com, pastormwm@gmail.com
Dear Louise,
Would you please make sure the announcement below is posted on the Parkview Terrace web page? We are trying to line up work for groups coming to Iowa City/Coralville in the next few weeks. We would also be interested to know about any individuals or families you believe we should contact directly.
Thanks for your help!
Mark
Do You Need Volunteer Help for Cleanup, Winterizing or Rebuilding?
The Disaster Relief Coordinators for United Way of Johnson County, Mark and Carol Martin, are looking for flood victims who would benefit from volunteer assistance in the coming weeks. A group of 35 volunteers from the Illinois State University School of Social Work will be in Iowa City from November 21-26, and they are hoping to help folks winterize or rebuild. Other groups are scheduled to follow them. If you have any kind of need, please contact Mark and Carol at 337-8657 (the United Way Volunteer Center), 354-1174 (their home) or 330-3030 (Mark's cell phone). They may be reached by email at mmartin@unitedwayjc.org, or pastormwm@mchsi.com.
Mark and Carol Martin
Disaster Relief Coordinators
United Way of Johnson County
1150 Sunset St.
Iowa City, IA 52246
Home: 319-354-1174
Mark's cell: 319-330-3030
Carol's cell: 319-330-5310
Email: pastormwm@mchsi.com, icmartin@mchsi.com, pastormwm@gmail.com
Save Parkview Terrace sooner rather than later
Save each household in Parkview Terrace equally and you will save the World!
Iowa City Local Government needs your help to obtain funding and direction to properly adminster assistance programs from the State to Flood Victims in Parkview Terrace.
Please write Chet, Dave, Chuck and Tom as soon as possible asking for their financial help so grant money can be distributed fairly and on a timely basis to the residents of Parkview Terrace.
Chet Culver - http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/
Dave Loebsack - http://loebsack.house.gov/contactform/
Chuck Grassley - http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Tom Harkin - http://harkin.senate.gov/c/
Also, Coralville is still looking at building up along the Iowa River above Parkview Terrace without any plans to prevent future flooding in our neighborhood. Please write Coralville asking to stop building up along the Iowa River as recent development along the Iowa River has significantly contributed to the higher flooding that occurred this past year.
http://www.coralville.org/mod.php?mod=faq
Your help is needed today!
Iowa City Local Government needs your help to obtain funding and direction to properly adminster assistance programs from the State to Flood Victims in Parkview Terrace.
Please write Chet, Dave, Chuck and Tom as soon as possible asking for their financial help so grant money can be distributed fairly and on a timely basis to the residents of Parkview Terrace.
Chet Culver - http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/
Dave Loebsack - http://loebsack.house.gov/contactform/
Chuck Grassley - http://grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Tom Harkin - http://harkin.senate.gov/c/
Also, Coralville is still looking at building up along the Iowa River above Parkview Terrace without any plans to prevent future flooding in our neighborhood. Please write Coralville asking to stop building up along the Iowa River as recent development along the Iowa River has significantly contributed to the higher flooding that occurred this past year.
http://www.coralville.org/mod.php?mod=faq
Your help is needed today!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Iowa City withholding Jumpstart and CBDG funds
Also, their is an article in today's Gazette - (I can't find it online so you'll have to pick up the paper) - describing how Iowa City is planning to disburse funds only to 11 families out of the 124 families that applied for Jumpstart and CDBG funding. Iowa City is stretching funds by withholding them and only granting funds to a few people now and indicating possibly 1/2 of the applicants may receive some funds at a later date. It seems Iowa City is encouraging to developing the flood plains to help "Jumpstart" local real estate developers by allowing home sales at substantial discounts at the expense of homeowners rather than aiding victims of the 2008 flood.
Flood Damaged Homes Sold
Flood Damaged Homes sold at steep discounts
Also, several homes in Parkview Terrace have been sold at substantial discounts.
Clink on the link below for additional information as reported by the Iowa City Press Citizen
Flood Damage Homes Sold
Also, several homes in Parkview Terrace have been sold at substantial discounts.
Clink on the link below for additional information as reported by the Iowa City Press Citizen
Flood Damage Homes Sold
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Free Light Fixtures courtesy of Iowa City Electric
Iowa City Electric is offering free light fixtures (from their home decorative stock), for victims of the flood, on Saturday, November 1 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Granny's Antique Mall. It is on a first come, first serve and the flood victims will need to provide their name and address for verification.
This is the stock left over from their retail store that they just closed on October 1, so it is an opportunity for flood victims that are rebuilding to get fixtures for free. Hover they will not be able to order more, so if there is just one of something- that is all there is. Please notify any of you clients that have been affected by the flood about this information.
(email from Patti Fields of United Way)
This is the stock left over from their retail store that they just closed on October 1, so it is an opportunity for flood victims that are rebuilding to get fixtures for free. Hover they will not be able to order more, so if there is just one of something- that is all there is. Please notify any of you clients that have been affected by the flood about this information.
(email from Patti Fields of United Way)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Volunteer Help Available Nov 10 and 11.
Next month, Hillel will be hosting a group of about 20-25 high school students from a synagogue in Westchester County, NY. They are coming to help with flood reconstruction work and to learn a little about life in the Midwest.
Do you know of any specific projects that these students can work on? They’ll be here Sunday-Tuesday, November 9-11. They hope to spend Sunday afternoon in Cedar Rapids and then Monday all day and Tuesday morning here in Iowa City. If we can put them to work for several hours Monday (preferably with the participation of some of our Hillel students), they should be able to accomplish a significant amount of work. If you know of anyone else I should be contacting, please let me know. Thanks very much for your help. --Jerry Sorokin
Please email or call Jerry if you need assistance - gerald-sorokin@uiowa.edu or 319-338-0778
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Do you know of any specific projects that these students can work on? They’ll be here Sunday-Tuesday, November 9-11. They hope to spend Sunday afternoon in Cedar Rapids and then Monday all day and Tuesday morning here in Iowa City. If we can put them to work for several hours Monday (preferably with the participation of some of our Hillel students), they should be able to accomplish a significant amount of work. If you know of anyone else I should be contacting, please let me know. Thanks very much for your help. --Jerry Sorokin
Please email or call Jerry if you need assistance - gerald-sorokin@uiowa.edu or 319-338-0778
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Flood Recovery and Buyout Process Resource Center Updated
Much more flood info:
and the New Voluntary Flood Buyout Map (10/20/2008)
Flood Recovery & Buyout Process Resource Center
Be sure to click on Learn More....items for additional informationand the New Voluntary Flood Buyout Map (10/20/2008)
Saturday, October 11, 2008
New FEMA number for Iowa Disaster Victims
----- Original Message -----
From: Carol Sweeting
To: Robert Irwin ; clinesally@cs.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 7:18 AM
Subject: FW: FEMA # for Iowa disaster victims
Just got this number hope it helps.
Carol Sweeting
Flood Recovery
Iowa City Public Works
Public Information, Education, Volunteer Coordinator
410 E Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Ph. 319-356-5164
Cell 319-541-2385
Fax. 319-356-5007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.com; efoudree@indianhills.edu; NANCY GULICK; tjnancarrow@dmgov.org; tom masey; Doug Nelson
Subject: FEMA # for Iowa disaster victims
For those of you working with homeowners who are having trouble contacting FEMA due to the high volume of calls on FEMA’s toll-free line, please refer them to the number that FEMA established specifically for Iowa disaster victims:
1-866-274-4392
I hope they will have better luck using that number. Thanks!
Terri Rosonke
HousingIowa Development Specialist
Iowa Finance Authority
2015 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
Toll Free: 1.800.432.7230
Direct Line: 515.725.4956
Cell: 515.250.0297
Fax: 515.725.4901
E-mail: terri.rosonke@iowa.gov
Website: www.IowaFinanceAuthority.gov
From: Carol Sweeting
To: Robert Irwin ; clinesally@cs.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 7:18 AM
Subject: FW: FEMA # for Iowa disaster victims
Just got this number hope it helps.
Carol Sweeting
Flood Recovery
Iowa City Public Works
Public Information, Education, Volunteer Coordinator
410 E Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Ph. 319-356-5164
Cell 319-541-2385
Fax. 319-356-5007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.com; efoudree@indianhills.edu; NANCY GULICK; tjnancarrow@dmgov.org; tom masey; Doug Nelson
Subject: FEMA # for Iowa disaster victims
For those of you working with homeowners who are having trouble contacting FEMA due to the high volume of calls on FEMA’s toll-free line, please refer them to the number that FEMA established specifically for Iowa disaster victims:
1-866-274-4392
I hope they will have better luck using that number. Thanks!
Terri Rosonke
HousingIowa Development Specialist
Iowa Finance Authority
2015 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
Toll Free: 1.800.432.7230
Direct Line: 515.725.4956
Cell: 515.250.0297
Fax: 515.725.4901
E-mail: terri.rosonke@iowa.gov
Website: www.IowaFinanceAuthority.gov
Deadline Nearing for Jump Start Applications
----- Original Message -----
From: City of Iowa City
To: irwinre@msn.com
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 3:08 PM
Subject: Deadline Nearing for Jump Start Applications
Contact: Steve Long, Comm. Dev. CoordinatorContact Phone: (319) 356-5230
Deadline Nearing for Jump Start Applications
Posted by: Community Dev.
Mailing List: Flood Recovery Updates
Originally Posted 10/10/2008 3:08:05 PM
Those Iowa City home and business owners affected by the flood have a few more days to complete their applications for Jumpstart Iowa funding. The Flood Recovery Center in the Main Lobby of City Hall will have special hours Saturday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Center will also be open Monday and Tuesday, October 13 and 14, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. City staff will be available those hours to help applicants fill out their forms and answer questions. The deadline to receive Jumpstart applications is 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14. Application forms are also available online at www.icgov.org/recovery and questions can be e-mailed to recovery@iowa-city.org. Flood-impacted residents can also utilize the Flood Recovery Hotline phone number at 319-356-5479.
View and edit your subscription details.
Visit our jobs page for employment opportunities.
View more news from the City of Iowa City.
Do not reply directly to this e-mail! It is produced from an automated system, and is not monitored for replies. If you have a question or comment about this information, please contact the originating department of this message, or by using our feedback form.
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From: City of Iowa City
To: irwinre@msn.com
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 3:08 PM
Subject: Deadline Nearing for Jump Start Applications
Contact: Steve Long, Comm. Dev. CoordinatorContact Phone: (319) 356-5230
Deadline Nearing for Jump Start Applications
Posted by: Community Dev.
Mailing List: Flood Recovery Updates
Originally Posted 10/10/2008 3:08:05 PM
Those Iowa City home and business owners affected by the flood have a few more days to complete their applications for Jumpstart Iowa funding. The Flood Recovery Center in the Main Lobby of City Hall will have special hours Saturday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Center will also be open Monday and Tuesday, October 13 and 14, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. City staff will be available those hours to help applicants fill out their forms and answer questions. The deadline to receive Jumpstart applications is 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14. Application forms are also available online at www.icgov.org/recovery and questions can be e-mailed to recovery@iowa-city.org. Flood-impacted residents can also utilize the Flood Recovery Hotline phone number at 319-356-5479.
View and edit your subscription details.
Visit our jobs page for employment opportunities.
View more news from the City of Iowa City.
Do not reply directly to this e-mail! It is produced from an automated system, and is not monitored for replies. If you have a question or comment about this information, please contact the originating department of this message, or by using our feedback form.
For technical questions regarding the website, please contact our web team.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Insurance Claim Mediation Service Offered
----- Original Message -----
From: Lore McGuire
To: PTV Neighborhood
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:55 PM
Subject: Iowa's Flood Mediation Program
Bob,This was in the P-C on Wednesday. Would you post this information?"The state of Iowa's Flood Mediation Program is designed to work with you and your insurance carriers to make sure that flood claims are being properly and fairly processed. Be sure you file a claim with your insurance carrier right away. The program cannot assist you until the claim has been processed by your insurance carrier. Other than a $25. fee, the cost for this program is paid by your insurance company. For more information call 877-955-1212.
Lore
From: Lore McGuire
To: PTV Neighborhood
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:55 PM
Subject: Iowa's Flood Mediation Program
Bob,This was in the P-C on Wednesday. Would you post this information?"The state of Iowa's Flood Mediation Program is designed to work with you and your insurance carriers to make sure that flood claims are being properly and fairly processed. Be sure you file a claim with your insurance carrier right away. The program cannot assist you until the claim has been processed by your insurance carrier. Other than a $25. fee, the cost for this program is paid by your insurance company. For more information call 877-955-1212.
Lore
Where and when should PTV go with future flood mitigation?
----- Original Message -----
From: Linder, Marc
To: PVT Neighborhood
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:47 PM
Subject: Tell city manager what you want!
Below is an email exchange with city mgr Lombardo. He asks whether the neighborhood wants the city to speed up formulating plans for the future of pvt so that they can be discussed with the neighborhood or whether city should hold off until it finds out whether congress in 2009 might appropriate more $.
The neighbors should discuss this issue among themselves and tell the city what they want
From: Michael Lombardo
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 4:32 PMTo: Linder, Marc
Subject: RE: UI cttee of flood experts
My inclination was to hold off until we had a better idea of the level of funding from the next supplemental appropriation – the concern being that we might develop solutions (and expectations) that would exceed funding levels and the emotional toll that might take.
Do you believe property owners would prefer getting started sooner and then modifying the approach as needed to fit likely funding scenarios?
-- Michael Lombardo
From: Linder, Marc
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 2:32 PM
To: Michael Lombardo
Subject: RE: UI cttee of flood experts
Mr Lombardo
Do you have any sense as to when the city will have developed plans firm enough to discuss with the residents?
From: Michael Lombardo
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 2:29 PM
To: Linder, MarcCc: Jeff Davidson
Subject: RE: UI cttee of flood experts
Mr. Linder,
Yes, we continue to meet with the University to coordinate long range planning for the river corridor. The University has also provided access to the individuals and firms that they brought on and we are likely to avail ourselves of some of the engineering and design services that they specialize in.
--Michael Lombardo
From: Linder, Marc
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:10 PM
To: Michael Lombardo
Cc: Jeff Davidson
Subject: UI cttee of flood experts
Mr. Lombardo,
Some time ago you mentioned at a city council mtg that IC, Coralville, and UI would try to coordinate their plans for coexisting with the river. Has there been a follow-thru?
Now that UI has appointed a cttee of flood experts, is there any possibility that: 1. IC could piggy-back on to this cttee? 2. The cttee could also consider PVT? Or 3. IC could appoint its own cttee?
Marc linder
From: Linder, Marc
To: PVT Neighborhood
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:47 PM
Subject: Tell city manager what you want!
Below is an email exchange with city mgr Lombardo. He asks whether the neighborhood wants the city to speed up formulating plans for the future of pvt so that they can be discussed with the neighborhood or whether city should hold off until it finds out whether congress in 2009 might appropriate more $.
The neighbors should discuss this issue among themselves and tell the city what they want
From: Michael Lombardo
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 4:32 PMTo: Linder, Marc
Subject: RE: UI cttee of flood experts
My inclination was to hold off until we had a better idea of the level of funding from the next supplemental appropriation – the concern being that we might develop solutions (and expectations) that would exceed funding levels and the emotional toll that might take.
Do you believe property owners would prefer getting started sooner and then modifying the approach as needed to fit likely funding scenarios?
-- Michael Lombardo
From: Linder, Marc
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 2:32 PM
To: Michael Lombardo
Subject: RE: UI cttee of flood experts
Mr Lombardo
Do you have any sense as to when the city will have developed plans firm enough to discuss with the residents?
From: Michael Lombardo
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 2:29 PM
To: Linder, MarcCc: Jeff Davidson
Subject: RE: UI cttee of flood experts
Mr. Linder,
Yes, we continue to meet with the University to coordinate long range planning for the river corridor. The University has also provided access to the individuals and firms that they brought on and we are likely to avail ourselves of some of the engineering and design services that they specialize in.
--Michael Lombardo
From: Linder, Marc
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:10 PM
To: Michael Lombardo
Cc: Jeff Davidson
Subject: UI cttee of flood experts
Mr. Lombardo,
Some time ago you mentioned at a city council mtg that IC, Coralville, and UI would try to coordinate their plans for coexisting with the river. Has there been a follow-thru?
Now that UI has appointed a cttee of flood experts, is there any possibility that: 1. IC could piggy-back on to this cttee? 2. The cttee could also consider PVT? Or 3. IC could appoint its own cttee?
Marc linder
Jumpstart Suggestions for people not on the buyout list
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony, Jerry" <jerry-anthony@uiowa.edu>
To: PTV Neighborhood and Steve Long, Jeff Davidson and Michael Lombardo
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 4:48 PM
Subject: Jumpstart and CDBG
Dear All: Three things that folks not on the HGMP list (i.e., buyout list) should pursue in discussions with state and city officials.
1. Ask for Interim Mortgage Assistance. Right now it is available only to those on the buyout list, but many people off the list are still living elsewhere and making rent payments -- rent payments that are fast depleting their FEMA grants. At the Monday meeting, Councilor Amy Correia had felt that this must be done.
2. Ask for higher amounts for Housing Repair or Rehab Assistance.Right now its set at $50,000 (+ $10,000 for energy efficiency upgrades).Construction costs are much higher in Iowa City than in the rest of the state. And as per Iowa City's assessment of damage reports in PVT,$50,000 is towards the lower end of repair estimates.
3. Ask for income guidelines to be used in applications for all funds--- i.e., people with lower wage incomes be given a greater share of the funds.
Hang in there folks. --- Jerry Anthony
From: "Anthony, Jerry" <jerry-anthony@uiowa.edu>
To: PTV Neighborhood and Steve Long, Jeff Davidson and Michael Lombardo
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 4:48 PM
Subject: Jumpstart and CDBG
Dear All: Three things that folks not on the HGMP list (i.e., buyout list) should pursue in discussions with state and city officials.
1. Ask for Interim Mortgage Assistance. Right now it is available only to those on the buyout list, but many people off the list are still living elsewhere and making rent payments -- rent payments that are fast depleting their FEMA grants. At the Monday meeting, Councilor Amy Correia had felt that this must be done.
2. Ask for higher amounts for Housing Repair or Rehab Assistance.Right now its set at $50,000 (+ $10,000 for energy efficiency upgrades).Construction costs are much higher in Iowa City than in the rest of the state. And as per Iowa City's assessment of damage reports in PVT,$50,000 is towards the lower end of repair estimates.
3. Ask for income guidelines to be used in applications for all funds--- i.e., people with lower wage incomes be given a greater share of the funds.
Hang in there folks. --- Jerry Anthony
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Jumpstart Update Info
Hi All,
Following is the url for Jumpstart Iowa assistance. Jumpstart Link (click on it)
I know folks have discussed the program via the neighborhood email list, but I'm wanting to be sure that everyone has an opportunity to ask questions of the City staff per their particular situation. Those in attendance at Monday's meeting know that the program guidelines are presenting some unintended outcomes. Steve Long (stephen-long@iowa-city.org), Elenor Dilkes (eleanor-dilkes@iowa-city.org), Jeff Davidson (jeff-davidson@iowa-city.org) and Michael Lombardo (michael-lombardo@iowa-city.org) need our questions so they can pursue both the needed answers and understand the varied circumstance we are working from as we try to move forward.
Elenor Dilkes is pursuing an answer to Morris' question, a question many folks have: Can a pre-flood appraisal, done after the flood, be used to determine to the buyout amount, instead of the current assessed value? An appraisal done within the past year will work, as you may remember from earlier presentations. The FEMA desk reference explains that: "Communities may offer homeowners who agree to participate in a buyout project up to the fair market value of the home BEFORE the disaster struck. A licensed appraiser hired by the community determines the fair market value." My sense is that the City is working from this basis.
For the purpose of filing our taxes, we are having MRS do a pre and post flood appraisal.
One of the questions folks who are on the HMGP application are asking is, "should I go ahead and heat my home minimally so as to be sure the foundation does not crack." I am hoping the City will be able to send HMPG homeowners further clarification of the process now that the application id being made. We have also attached the HMPG buyout map.
Best,
Steve
Following is the url for Jumpstart Iowa assistance. Jumpstart Link (click on it)
I know folks have discussed the program via the neighborhood email list, but I'm wanting to be sure that everyone has an opportunity to ask questions of the City staff per their particular situation. Those in attendance at Monday's meeting know that the program guidelines are presenting some unintended outcomes. Steve Long (stephen-long@iowa-city.org), Elenor Dilkes (eleanor-dilkes@iowa-city.org), Jeff Davidson (jeff-davidson@iowa-city.org) and Michael Lombardo (michael-lombardo@iowa-city.org) need our questions so they can pursue both the needed answers and understand the varied circumstance we are working from as we try to move forward.
Elenor Dilkes is pursuing an answer to Morris' question, a question many folks have: Can a pre-flood appraisal, done after the flood, be used to determine to the buyout amount, instead of the current assessed value? An appraisal done within the past year will work, as you may remember from earlier presentations. The FEMA desk reference explains that: "Communities may offer homeowners who agree to participate in a buyout project up to the fair market value of the home BEFORE the disaster struck. A licensed appraiser hired by the community determines the fair market value." My sense is that the City is working from this basis.
For the purpose of filing our taxes, we are having MRS do a pre and post flood appraisal.
One of the questions folks who are on the HMGP application are asking is, "should I go ahead and heat my home minimally so as to be sure the foundation does not crack." I am hoping the City will be able to send HMPG homeowners further clarification of the process now that the application id being made. We have also attached the HMPG buyout map.
Best,
Steve
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Hydrology Meeting notes 08/04/2008
Thanks Judy!
Park View Terrace (Mosquito Flats) “Hydrology 101” session
Monday, August 4th, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Iowa City Public Library, meeting room A
Highlights:
Attendance at this meeting was perhaps 70 or 80 people—with half that many by the end
We first heard from Jude Moss of the Iowa City Water Division, who discussed procedures for reactivation/inspection/repair/shutoff of water/sewer accounts—more below.
The main portion of the meeting was devoted to a presentation by Frank Weirich, Iowa professor of hydraulics and civil & environmental engineering—detailed notes below. Among the main points—averting/mitigating future flooding requires a comprehensive solution for the entire drainage basin; operational plans for the Coralville dam are certain to be revised, but major changes to the dam and reservoir are very unlikely; focusing on the river water itself is key to a comprehensive solution, along with localized measures; local factors downstream such as the coffer dam and other dams and bridges exacerbated but did not cause the floods; flood probabilities for the future are more likely than previously thought.
Finally, those remaining in the room made a consensus decision that Steve McGuire, Jerry Anthony and Doug Jones—on the basis of their activism and expertise—will act as our neighborhood representatives in meetings, hearings, and so on related to flood aftermath, prevention, mitigation, etc. etc.
Water service:
City water/sewer accounts are being reactivated as of August 1st. Any homeowners who do not intend to reoccupy their homes need to inform the department. This is especially important because if a dwelling will remain vacant with the onset of cold weather, service needs to be shut off entirely.
Meanwhile, the department will hire a contractor to inspect the “stop boxes” which are built into the curb at each dwelling, and fix any in need of repair, and then water meter and radio read devices also will be replaced, with all costs born by the city and FEMA. All homeowners need to contact the department to schedule these activities.
The contact is: Jude Moss, Water Division customer service coordinator, 356-5163 or jude-moss@iowa-city.org.
Hydrology lesson:
[Caveat: these notes come through a double filter—they are the note-takers’ best possible interpretation of the speakers’ interpretation.]
The speaker introduces himself as a specialist in floods, landslides and fires, watershed and flood modeling, and inundation—“where it goes, why it goes there.”
Need to understand that floods take place in an “integrated system,” in which changes in one thing affect the entire system. In other words, change in our neighborhood will affect everybody else, and vice versa. This, all stakeholders need to discuss flood mitigation plans. “Solutions must be integrated and comprehensive.”
Starting point for understanding floods is a basic hydrology equation:
P (precipitation, i.e., rainfall, snow, ice melt) =
ET (evaporation) + R (surface runoff) + G (groundwater storage)
In other words, what doesn’t evaporate or go into the ground has to go somewhere else. Circumstances on the ground can change runoff, how much water goes in different directions and how fast; e.g., urbanization, with streets, asphalt, etc., makes the ground impervious and forces more runoff, in contrast to soil, in which 50% of water will go into the ground.
A hydrograph illustrates the output of a river system over time—expressed as:
Q (discharge, in cfs, or cubic feet per second)
and T (time, e.g., in days)
Here’s an example:
The key concern in flooding is not the volume of water, but that peak discharge—the highest level reached.
Also must understand basic river and flood plain hydraulics—how moving water behaves in and beyond the river channel. The basic equation for this is:
Q = AV
in which Q is discharge, A is area, taken as a cross-section of the river channel (width x depth), and V the velocity of the water, or its average speed.
Then comes the Manning equation, a calculation of velocity or water flow speed. The velocity can change depending on the channel configuration; it helps if the river is wider with increased surface area. The equation is:
V=1.49 x R x S
N
in which R is a function of the river basin’s area and perimeter, S is slope, and N is a coefficient expressing a “friction factor” based on the surface the water is going over – for instance, a rougher surface like a sandy bottom will slow water down, whereas a smooth surface such as concrete or glass means faster flow; and it also accounts for obstacles in the river or flood plain, such as those presented by trees or subdivisions, that will slow water down. FEMA models are based on this equation.
The drainage basin we’re dealing with extends to from 3,000 square miles above the Coralville Dam to a few hundred square miles below. The Coralville Reservoir holds some 410,000 acre feet of water. Excessive storms like we had last spring result in loss of storage capacity; during the floods, the water volume in the reservoir reached 500,000 acre feet and was still rising. Over time, the accumulation of sedimentation in the reservoir also is reducing storage capacity.
The Coralville Dam originally was designed to increase storage and minimize danger with controlled release of water, delaying its transit and buffering the flow, so that peak discharge in the river would be lower—in other words, the peak on the hydrograph would be lower. The dam was built as part of the Mississippi River flood system—with protection of Iowa City only a secondary benefit; and since them, other missions have been added, e.g., recreation, fishing, wildlife habitat, with plans changed to accommodate those additional functions.
Could we dredge the reservoir? Dredging is very expensive—and an additional problem is that the bottom of the reservoir is full of DDT from the days before it was banned, and dredging would stir it up. What about raising the dam? Raising the level of the reservoir would expand the surface and necessitate purchase of property rights around the shore, expensive and difficult; in addition, since the reservoir is very shallow, expanding it would have huge environmental consequences in destroying habitat.
The Army Corps of Engineers operational plan for the dam can be changed at any time, and definitely will be reevaluated after these floods. This will involve a cost-benefit analysis—for instance, if the pool is maintained at too high a level, more farmland will be flooded upstream and restitution will have to be paid, which is part of the tradeoff for protecting areas downstream. Every spring brings a “guessing game” about this balance.
Following the 1993 floods, the Corps changed the release plan to release more water earlier—and obviously this time it still was not early enough; release of more water in March or April would have avoided “a certain number of feet rise” downstream, but instead the key decision was made to maintain the normal release of 10,000 cfs to avoid flooding Dubuque Street. “In hindsight, you can always mitigate a flood.”
A lot of factors converged at PVT: Snow melt from the winter, early spring rain upriver, which worked its way down toward the reservoir, and meanwhile other storms to the west and the east dumped more water, less rain but more intense, and the ground became saturated so it could not drain any more, and then there were other exacerbating factors. The buildup of obstructions at the Park Road bridge, the University of Iowa construction coffer dam and the dam beyond the Burlington Street bridge all affected the system. The coffer dam “narrowed the flow” but did not cause the backup to Parkview Terrace; the bottom of the river remains mobile, and in fact higher velocity water cuts a deeper channel (called scouring—although later sand and silt will fill in the new holes). Construction, silting and so on all affect the river water level.
As our flood record grows, with increased data and also use of proxy records, and given climate change, river movement and other factors, estimates of flood probabilities for the future should become more pessimistic—e.g., the purportedly 100-year flood of 1993 may now be a 30-to-50-year flood, and the latest supposedly 500-year flood may actually be a 70-year flood. (Not for quotation!)
The best strategy for the future overall lies not in changes to local hydrology, but in focusing on what happens to the river water. For our neighborhood, the key question is: If PVT is not going to go away (to raze or raise?) how to protect the homes that remain? This could involve creation of grass levy systems and berms, culverts and overflow structures; also building homes so they are “more floodable,” e.g., putting utilities on a second floor. Raising the Park Road bridge to avoid creation of another “debris dam” would help.
The plans in any case need to be comprehensive and require coordination—perhaps through the Johnson County Council of Governments, and we definitely should make use of our congressional delegation. The Army Corps of Engineers has to approve anything; the Department of Natural Resources also has to approve. In the meantime, feedback at public hearings can have huge importance—the speakers’ wife used to hold public meetings for the Corps and she deems them “the most powerful agent for social change.” The plans ultimately will end up going to DC for the chief of the Corps to sign off.
Park View Terrace (Mosquito Flats) “Hydrology 101” session
Monday, August 4th, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Iowa City Public Library, meeting room A
Highlights:
Attendance at this meeting was perhaps 70 or 80 people—with half that many by the end
We first heard from Jude Moss of the Iowa City Water Division, who discussed procedures for reactivation/inspection/repair/shutoff of water/sewer accounts—more below.
The main portion of the meeting was devoted to a presentation by Frank Weirich, Iowa professor of hydraulics and civil & environmental engineering—detailed notes below. Among the main points—averting/mitigating future flooding requires a comprehensive solution for the entire drainage basin; operational plans for the Coralville dam are certain to be revised, but major changes to the dam and reservoir are very unlikely; focusing on the river water itself is key to a comprehensive solution, along with localized measures; local factors downstream such as the coffer dam and other dams and bridges exacerbated but did not cause the floods; flood probabilities for the future are more likely than previously thought.
Finally, those remaining in the room made a consensus decision that Steve McGuire, Jerry Anthony and Doug Jones—on the basis of their activism and expertise—will act as our neighborhood representatives in meetings, hearings, and so on related to flood aftermath, prevention, mitigation, etc. etc.
Water service:
City water/sewer accounts are being reactivated as of August 1st. Any homeowners who do not intend to reoccupy their homes need to inform the department. This is especially important because if a dwelling will remain vacant with the onset of cold weather, service needs to be shut off entirely.
Meanwhile, the department will hire a contractor to inspect the “stop boxes” which are built into the curb at each dwelling, and fix any in need of repair, and then water meter and radio read devices also will be replaced, with all costs born by the city and FEMA. All homeowners need to contact the department to schedule these activities.
The contact is: Jude Moss, Water Division customer service coordinator, 356-5163 or jude-moss@iowa-city.org.
Hydrology lesson:
[Caveat: these notes come through a double filter—they are the note-takers’ best possible interpretation of the speakers’ interpretation.]
The speaker introduces himself as a specialist in floods, landslides and fires, watershed and flood modeling, and inundation—“where it goes, why it goes there.”
Need to understand that floods take place in an “integrated system,” in which changes in one thing affect the entire system. In other words, change in our neighborhood will affect everybody else, and vice versa. This, all stakeholders need to discuss flood mitigation plans. “Solutions must be integrated and comprehensive.”
Starting point for understanding floods is a basic hydrology equation:
P (precipitation, i.e., rainfall, snow, ice melt) =
ET (evaporation) + R (surface runoff) + G (groundwater storage)
In other words, what doesn’t evaporate or go into the ground has to go somewhere else. Circumstances on the ground can change runoff, how much water goes in different directions and how fast; e.g., urbanization, with streets, asphalt, etc., makes the ground impervious and forces more runoff, in contrast to soil, in which 50% of water will go into the ground.
A hydrograph illustrates the output of a river system over time—expressed as:
Q (discharge, in cfs, or cubic feet per second)
and T (time, e.g., in days)
Here’s an example:
The key concern in flooding is not the volume of water, but that peak discharge—the highest level reached.
Also must understand basic river and flood plain hydraulics—how moving water behaves in and beyond the river channel. The basic equation for this is:
Q = AV
in which Q is discharge, A is area, taken as a cross-section of the river channel (width x depth), and V the velocity of the water, or its average speed.
Then comes the Manning equation, a calculation of velocity or water flow speed. The velocity can change depending on the channel configuration; it helps if the river is wider with increased surface area. The equation is:
V=1.49 x R x S
N
in which R is a function of the river basin’s area and perimeter, S is slope, and N is a coefficient expressing a “friction factor” based on the surface the water is going over – for instance, a rougher surface like a sandy bottom will slow water down, whereas a smooth surface such as concrete or glass means faster flow; and it also accounts for obstacles in the river or flood plain, such as those presented by trees or subdivisions, that will slow water down. FEMA models are based on this equation.
The drainage basin we’re dealing with extends to from 3,000 square miles above the Coralville Dam to a few hundred square miles below. The Coralville Reservoir holds some 410,000 acre feet of water. Excessive storms like we had last spring result in loss of storage capacity; during the floods, the water volume in the reservoir reached 500,000 acre feet and was still rising. Over time, the accumulation of sedimentation in the reservoir also is reducing storage capacity.
The Coralville Dam originally was designed to increase storage and minimize danger with controlled release of water, delaying its transit and buffering the flow, so that peak discharge in the river would be lower—in other words, the peak on the hydrograph would be lower. The dam was built as part of the Mississippi River flood system—with protection of Iowa City only a secondary benefit; and since them, other missions have been added, e.g., recreation, fishing, wildlife habitat, with plans changed to accommodate those additional functions.
Could we dredge the reservoir? Dredging is very expensive—and an additional problem is that the bottom of the reservoir is full of DDT from the days before it was banned, and dredging would stir it up. What about raising the dam? Raising the level of the reservoir would expand the surface and necessitate purchase of property rights around the shore, expensive and difficult; in addition, since the reservoir is very shallow, expanding it would have huge environmental consequences in destroying habitat.
The Army Corps of Engineers operational plan for the dam can be changed at any time, and definitely will be reevaluated after these floods. This will involve a cost-benefit analysis—for instance, if the pool is maintained at too high a level, more farmland will be flooded upstream and restitution will have to be paid, which is part of the tradeoff for protecting areas downstream. Every spring brings a “guessing game” about this balance.
Following the 1993 floods, the Corps changed the release plan to release more water earlier—and obviously this time it still was not early enough; release of more water in March or April would have avoided “a certain number of feet rise” downstream, but instead the key decision was made to maintain the normal release of 10,000 cfs to avoid flooding Dubuque Street. “In hindsight, you can always mitigate a flood.”
A lot of factors converged at PVT: Snow melt from the winter, early spring rain upriver, which worked its way down toward the reservoir, and meanwhile other storms to the west and the east dumped more water, less rain but more intense, and the ground became saturated so it could not drain any more, and then there were other exacerbating factors. The buildup of obstructions at the Park Road bridge, the University of Iowa construction coffer dam and the dam beyond the Burlington Street bridge all affected the system. The coffer dam “narrowed the flow” but did not cause the backup to Parkview Terrace; the bottom of the river remains mobile, and in fact higher velocity water cuts a deeper channel (called scouring—although later sand and silt will fill in the new holes). Construction, silting and so on all affect the river water level.
As our flood record grows, with increased data and also use of proxy records, and given climate change, river movement and other factors, estimates of flood probabilities for the future should become more pessimistic—e.g., the purportedly 100-year flood of 1993 may now be a 30-to-50-year flood, and the latest supposedly 500-year flood may actually be a 70-year flood. (Not for quotation!)
The best strategy for the future overall lies not in changes to local hydrology, but in focusing on what happens to the river water. For our neighborhood, the key question is: If PVT is not going to go away (to raze or raise?) how to protect the homes that remain? This could involve creation of grass levy systems and berms, culverts and overflow structures; also building homes so they are “more floodable,” e.g., putting utilities on a second floor. Raising the Park Road bridge to avoid creation of another “debris dam” would help.
The plans in any case need to be comprehensive and require coordination—perhaps through the Johnson County Council of Governments, and we definitely should make use of our congressional delegation. The Army Corps of Engineers has to approve anything; the Department of Natural Resources also has to approve. In the meantime, feedback at public hearings can have huge importance—the speakers’ wife used to hold public meetings for the Corps and she deems them “the most powerful agent for social change.” The plans ultimately will end up going to DC for the chief of the Corps to sign off.
Invitation for Writing Group
Bob, Here are the documents which were combined into a flyer for letting people know about this group.Thanks for sending this to the Park View Terrace Group.
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:29 PM
To: McGuire, SteveSubject: Flood 2008 Writing Group
Steve, Please forward the attached documents to the PVT group.Adam Campbell, Project Recovery, has coloring books designed for children that have been affected by the flood. Would you be interested in making these available to families that attend the buyout forum? If so, please contact me or Adam. Adam can be reached at the Community Mental Health Center, 338-7884.
Thanks! Diane
________________________________________________________
“Swept Away---Brought Together”
This summer’s flood waters brought great loss, suffering and grief to many in our community, and it affected all ages, all incomes, all races and religions.
Healing comes from telling and sharing stories. Stories connect us all to our humanity. The Crisis Center is offering an opportunity for those who have survived the 2008 flood to come together and write the stories in a safe and confidential setting. We will use the medium of written word to record the events, to describe places and belongings, and to express emotions, thoughts and beliefs that came with the water that rushed in to steal and destroy…or maybe to cleanse and create.
We will write and share (as you are comfortable). We will listen and ask questions. We will honor whatever needs honoring. There is no limits on the form your writing may take (poetry, prose, essay, 1st person or 3rd person narrative). There is no right or wrong way to write your story and you do not need to be a skilled writer to write your story. You only need to have a story.
I hope this creates a curiosity and desire to come and see what kind of a healing might come for you and the others who dare to reveal themselves and their stories within a compassionate and understanding community.
If you are interested or want more information, please call the Crisis Center at 351-0140 and ask for Diane. If I am not there, leave a message with the crisis line volunteer that you are interested. Leave your name and phone # if you are comfortable with that, and I will return your call. And ask a neighbor or friend to join you!! I think I can guarantee that you will meet some wonderful people!
Sincerely,
Diane Yagla, Flood Case Advocate at the Crisis Center
School of Social Work
___________________________________________________
“Swept Away---Brought Together”
share your
STORIES OF THE 2008 FLOOD
Through written expression or journaling within a safe, supportive community
(for people with all levels of writing experiences)
Share your stories of loss, fear, anger, desperation…
Your stories of support, strength, resilience
Of triumph---of faith---of hope
Of defeat---of doubt---of despair
Or whatever your heart needs to share.
Meet weekly for 6 weeks starting October 9th
The Crisis Center 1121 Gilbert Ct.
Day: Thursdays Time: 7-8:30 pm
(it only takes 2 people to make a group & I count as 1!!)
Writing can be a source of healing and recovery
and a creative way to make meaning out of life’s traumatic circumstances.
Contact Diane at the Crisis Center for details or questions---351-0140
“I was thirty five years old before I understood that there is no ending without a beginning. That beginnings and endings are always right up against each other. Nothing ever ends without something else beginning or begins without something else ending.”---Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:29 PM
To: McGuire, SteveSubject: Flood 2008 Writing Group
Steve, Please forward the attached documents to the PVT group.Adam Campbell, Project Recovery, has coloring books designed for children that have been affected by the flood. Would you be interested in making these available to families that attend the buyout forum? If so, please contact me or Adam. Adam can be reached at the Community Mental Health Center, 338-7884.
Thanks! Diane
________________________________________________________
“Swept Away---Brought Together”
This summer’s flood waters brought great loss, suffering and grief to many in our community, and it affected all ages, all incomes, all races and religions.
Healing comes from telling and sharing stories. Stories connect us all to our humanity. The Crisis Center is offering an opportunity for those who have survived the 2008 flood to come together and write the stories in a safe and confidential setting. We will use the medium of written word to record the events, to describe places and belongings, and to express emotions, thoughts and beliefs that came with the water that rushed in to steal and destroy…or maybe to cleanse and create.
We will write and share (as you are comfortable). We will listen and ask questions. We will honor whatever needs honoring. There is no limits on the form your writing may take (poetry, prose, essay, 1st person or 3rd person narrative). There is no right or wrong way to write your story and you do not need to be a skilled writer to write your story. You only need to have a story.
I hope this creates a curiosity and desire to come and see what kind of a healing might come for you and the others who dare to reveal themselves and their stories within a compassionate and understanding community.
If you are interested or want more information, please call the Crisis Center at 351-0140 and ask for Diane. If I am not there, leave a message with the crisis line volunteer that you are interested. Leave your name and phone # if you are comfortable with that, and I will return your call. And ask a neighbor or friend to join you!! I think I can guarantee that you will meet some wonderful people!
Sincerely,
Diane Yagla, Flood Case Advocate at the Crisis Center
School of Social Work
___________________________________________________
“Swept Away---Brought Together”
share your
STORIES OF THE 2008 FLOOD
Through written expression or journaling within a safe, supportive community
(for people with all levels of writing experiences)
Share your stories of loss, fear, anger, desperation…
Your stories of support, strength, resilience
Of triumph---of faith---of hope
Of defeat---of doubt---of despair
Or whatever your heart needs to share.
Meet weekly for 6 weeks starting October 9th
The Crisis Center 1121 Gilbert Ct.
Day: Thursdays Time: 7-8:30 pm
(it only takes 2 people to make a group & I count as 1!!)
Writing can be a source of healing and recovery
and a creative way to make meaning out of life’s traumatic circumstances.
Contact Diane at the Crisis Center for details or questions---351-0140
“I was thirty five years old before I understood that there is no ending without a beginning. That beginnings and endings are always right up against each other. Nothing ever ends without something else beginning or begins without something else ending.”---Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
Friday, October 3, 2008
Buyout and Flood Mitigations Intentions Announced
Buyout and Flood Mitigations Intentions Announced
Protecting residences could cost $35 million
Being a day resident of Parkview Terrace - it seems odd I have to read the newpaper to keep up to date on our neighborhood.
Protecting residences could cost $35 million
Being a day resident of Parkview Terrace - it seems odd I have to read the newpaper to keep up to date on our neighborhood.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 6th date for finalized buyout list
Iowa City will finalize the buyout list on Oct 6th and then you will be able to proceed with the Jumpstart Iowa Program as your future should be decided at that time. (Per Steve Long)
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
Jumpstart Conflicts Announced
Conflicts announced in Jumpstart Program for Parkview Terrace and other flood victims.
From today's Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Conflict between Jumpstart, buyouts for some flood victims
No clarifications explanations offered by City as to how this happened.
From today's Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Conflict between Jumpstart, buyouts for some flood victims
No clarifications explanations offered by City as to how this happened.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Meeting this Saturday Postponed
Meeting this Saturday Postponed - See Below. Location, date and time will be announced on an unspecfied date.
________________________________________
From: McGuire, Steve
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 1:32 PM
To: PTV Neighborhood
Subject: Forum will not be this Saturday
Hi All,
The forum to be scheduled this Saturday October 4 will not be held. The recent announcement of additional funding for Flood recovery, while positive, will require additional deliberation on the part of the city, so that having a forum yet this week is premature.
Bob, could you post this on the PVT site?
Best,
Steve
________________________________________
From: McGuire, Steve
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 1:32 PM
To: PTV Neighborhood
Subject: Forum will not be this Saturday
Hi All,
The forum to be scheduled this Saturday October 4 will not be held. The recent announcement of additional funding for Flood recovery, while positive, will require additional deliberation on the part of the city, so that having a forum yet this week is premature.
Bob, could you post this on the PVT site?
Best,
Steve
Meeting This Saturday to Clarify the Future of the PTV Neighborhood this Saturday
-----Original Message-----
From: McGuire, Steve
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 7:42 AM
To: PTV Neighborhood
Subject: Forum
Hi All,
I met with Michael Lombardo yesterday to review where things are with the HMGP application and review how best to notify the neighborhood on potential actions and proposals . To that end, there will be a neighborhood forum next Saturday, time and place to be announced, in which City Manager Michael Lombardo and other staff will present specific options under review for the buyout of specific properties, as well as future flood mitigation projects aimed at protecting the neighborhood. My understanding is that both the state and city are moving quickly (much faster than is typically the case) to establish flood mitigation actions. The city has been in constant consultation with state officials over the past weeks since the “notice of intent” to establish which properties, under the HMGP formula/criteria and the funding available, have a good chance of being bought out.
I am glad to see the pace is as quick as it is. My sense from talking with folks is that we would all like to know sooner rather than later where things stand, so we can each move forward.
Please know that the City Council will soon be voting proposed options. Your attendance at the forum is important.
Best,
Steve
From: McGuire, Steve
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 7:42 AM
To: PTV Neighborhood
Subject: Forum
Hi All,
I met with Michael Lombardo yesterday to review where things are with the HMGP application and review how best to notify the neighborhood on potential actions and proposals . To that end, there will be a neighborhood forum next Saturday, time and place to be announced, in which City Manager Michael Lombardo and other staff will present specific options under review for the buyout of specific properties, as well as future flood mitigation projects aimed at protecting the neighborhood. My understanding is that both the state and city are moving quickly (much faster than is typically the case) to establish flood mitigation actions. The city has been in constant consultation with state officials over the past weeks since the “notice of intent” to establish which properties, under the HMGP formula/criteria and the funding available, have a good chance of being bought out.
I am glad to see the pace is as quick as it is. My sense from talking with folks is that we would all like to know sooner rather than later where things stand, so we can each move forward.
Please know that the City Council will soon be voting proposed options. Your attendance at the forum is important.
Best,
Steve
More Information from Iowa City - Jumpstart Program
More information from Iowa City regarding the Jumpstart program
Update from Jerry
Dear All:
Most of us received some money from FEMA, SBA, Red Cross, Crisis Center and others. I think its fair to say that these amounts are grossly inadequate for our needs. Now some more (but not much more) money is going to become available.
First, Governor Culver has allocated about $680,000 to Iowa City thru his Jumpstart Flood Recovery program. Please see attached PDF document for program details, eligible applicants and type of projects that will be funded.
Second, Congress approved a supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award in June/July 2008. Per this, Iowa City will get about $1.3 million.
The City will soon invite IC flood victims to apply for funds from these two sources. I believe formal invitations will be sent out on Tuesday October 7 (after a Council vote that evening on some details). To reduce paperwork and expedite the process, there will be just one application for both the programs listed above. Please look over details of the Jumpstart program and see if you would consider applying for assistance and if so, what kind. To help speed up the application process (once it is announced), the City has put out a "jumpstart checklist" -- see the second PDF attachment to this message. Owing to federal and state regulations, the money will most likely not be evenly distributed among all applicants -- older persons and lower income persons may get more than others. [Personally, I think this would be a very fair approach to distributing scarce resources.]
Third, Congress approved another supplemental CDBG grant for disaster affected states in September. Iowa City will get more money from this appropriation as well. How much more is not known but I expect at least $1.3 million more that may become available before the end of the year.
And then, who knows, there may be some FEMA buyouts as well.
Its been a long and stressful time for all of us (over 100 days since evacuation). Hopefully the next 100 days will be better than the last 100. Best. -- Jerry
Most of us received some money from FEMA, SBA, Red Cross, Crisis Center and others. I think its fair to say that these amounts are grossly inadequate for our needs. Now some more (but not much more) money is going to become available.
First, Governor Culver has allocated about $680,000 to Iowa City thru his Jumpstart Flood Recovery program. Please see attached PDF document for program details, eligible applicants and type of projects that will be funded.
Second, Congress approved a supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award in June/July 2008. Per this, Iowa City will get about $1.3 million.
The City will soon invite IC flood victims to apply for funds from these two sources. I believe formal invitations will be sent out on Tuesday October 7 (after a Council vote that evening on some details). To reduce paperwork and expedite the process, there will be just one application for both the programs listed above. Please look over details of the Jumpstart program and see if you would consider applying for assistance and if so, what kind. To help speed up the application process (once it is announced), the City has put out a "jumpstart checklist" -- see the second PDF attachment to this message. Owing to federal and state regulations, the money will most likely not be evenly distributed among all applicants -- older persons and lower income persons may get more than others. [Personally, I think this would be a very fair approach to distributing scarce resources.]
Third, Congress approved another supplemental CDBG grant for disaster affected states in September. Iowa City will get more money from this appropriation as well. How much more is not known but I expect at least $1.3 million more that may become available before the end of the year.
And then, who knows, there may be some FEMA buyouts as well.
Its been a long and stressful time for all of us (over 100 days since evacuation). Hopefully the next 100 days will be better than the last 100. Best. -- Jerry
Share your Flood Story
From: Nancy L. Baker, University Librarian [mailto:lib-friends@uiowa.edu]Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 11:11 AMSubject: [DeptInfo] Share Your Flood StoryOn Friday, June 13 when people from around the community came to the Main Library to help us move books and other materials out of the lower-level storage areas, I started thinking of ways that we could repay their kindness and dedication to the library.We decided that the best "thank you" would be developing a collection of flood-related materials that could involve community members. "Under the Current: Collecting Stories from the Flood" is a community-oriented oral history project in partnership with StoryCorps. You may have heard some StoryCorps interviews on NPR.StoryCorps is a national project to instruct and inspire Americans to record one another's stories in sound. These recorded interviews will be archived in the Iowa Digital Library as well as the Library of Congress.StoryCorps facilitators will be on campus to record interviews on Tuesday, September 30; Wednesday, October 1 and Thursday, October 2.In addition to the StoryCorps visit, we have organized three additional days of local story collecting. Students from Assistant Professor Nanette Barkey's Applied Anthropology class will be acting as facilitators for these additional interviews. These interviews will take place at the Iowa City Public Library on Tuesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 9, and the Coralville Public Library on Saturday, October 11.We are very excited about this collaborative project. If you want to learn more about the project or register to tell your story, you can check out the website www.lib.uiowa.edu/events/floodstories.Nancy L. Baker, University Librarian
Thursday, September 18, 2008
View NOI Buyout App
You should look at this info and determine your property is correctly classified. Please contact Steve or Abbie listed below if you have questions.
View Iowa City's Notice of Interest Buyout Application
Contact Information
Recovery/Buyout Information:Steve Long, Community Development CoordinatorCity Hall, Level 2410 E. Washington St.Iowa City, IA 52240319.356.5250 FAX: 319.356.5217buyout@iowa-city.org
ORAbbie Yoder, Flood Recovery AssistantCity Hall, Level 2410 E. Washington St.Iowa City, IA 5 2240319.356.5479 FAX: 319.356.5217buyout@iowa-city.org
View Iowa City's Notice of Interest Buyout Application
Contact Information
Recovery/Buyout Information:Steve Long, Community Development CoordinatorCity Hall, Level 2410 E. Washington St.Iowa City, IA 52240319.356.5250 FAX: 319.356.5217buyout@iowa-city.org
ORAbbie Yoder, Flood Recovery AssistantCity Hall, Level 2410 E. Washington St.Iowa City, IA 5 2240319.356.5479 FAX: 319.356.5217buyout@iowa-city.org
Jumpstart Info
This is just preliminary info - more details to follow in the next few days. Click on it to enlarge it.
Embrace Iowa Grant Info
This is just a list of what may be available to the state of Iowa.
EMBRACE IOWA GRANTS
(As of 9.12.08)
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
American Red Cross - Hawkeye Chapter $25,000 Black Hawk Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa $25,000 Black Hawk Immediate Emergency June
Cedar Valley United Way $25,000 Black Hawk Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa $125,000 Black Hawk Immediate Capacity Building July
Black Hawk County Disaster Recovery Committee $70,000 Black Hawk Victim Relief - individual asst./case advocates September
Total Black Hawk County $270,000
Buchanan County Disaster Recovery Committee $30,000 Buchanan Victim Relief - individual asst./case advocates September
Total Buchanan County $30,000
Waverly Shellrock Area United Way $10,000 Bremer Victim Relief and Immediate Capacity Building July
Total Bremer County $10,000
North Central Iowa Growth Partnership $75,000 Cerro Gordo Small Business Recovery July
Total Cerro Gordo County $75,000
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque $30,000 Clayton Victim Relief - major appliances September
Total Clayton County $30,000
Delaware County Disaster Recovery Committee $35,000 Delaware Victim Relief – individual needs September
Total Delaware County $35,000
American Red Cross of the Tri States Chapter $25,000 Dubuque Immediate Emergency June
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque $25,000 Dubuque Immediate Emergency June
Total Dubuque County $50,000
American Red Cross - Grant Wood Area Chapter $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of Johnson County $70,000 Johnson Immediate Capacity Building,
Small Business Recovery, Victim Relief July
Community Foundation of Johnson County $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
Salvation Army $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
United Way of Johnson County $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce $15,000 Johnson Small Business Recovery September
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity $45,000 Johnson Immediate Victim Relief September
Total Johnson County $230,000
American Red Cross - Grant Wood Area Chapter $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation $300,000 Linn Victim Relief, Small Business Recovery, July
Immediate Capacity Building
The Salvation Army $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
United Way of East Central Iowa $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation $150,000 Linn Small Business Recovery, Victim Relief September
Total Linn County $550,000
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
Community Foundation of the Great River Bend $25,000 Louisa Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of the Great River Bend $25,000 Louisa Victim Relief July
Community Foundation of the Great River Bend $25,000 Louisa Victim Relief, Immediate Capacity Building September
Total Louisa County $75,000
Mahaska County Conservation Board $10,000 Mahaska Immediate Capacity Building July
Total Mahaska County $10,000
Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine $25,000 Muscatine Immediate Emergency June
Total Muscatine County $25,000
American Red Cross, Central Iowa Chapter $50,000 Polk Victim Relief July
Greater DM Community Foundation $25,000 Polk Immediate Emergency June
Polk County Housing Trust Fund $25,000 Polk Victim Relief July
Central Iowa Recovery Network $50,000 Polk Victim Relief - direct asst./case advocacy September
Total Polk County $150,000
United Way of Quad Cities Area $25,000 Scott Immediate Emergency June
Total Scott County $25,000
United Way and Community Foundation of
Northwest Iowa $25,000 Webster Victim Relief – September
grants to homeowners/case advocates
Total Webster County $25,000
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
Wright County Charitable Foundation $50,000 Wright Victim Relief, Small Business Assistance September
Total Wright County $50,000
Total Grants as of 8/31/08 $1,640,000
EMBRACE IOWA GRANTS
(As of 9.12.08)
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
American Red Cross - Hawkeye Chapter $25,000 Black Hawk Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa $25,000 Black Hawk Immediate Emergency June
Cedar Valley United Way $25,000 Black Hawk Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa $125,000 Black Hawk Immediate Capacity Building July
Black Hawk County Disaster Recovery Committee $70,000 Black Hawk Victim Relief - individual asst./case advocates September
Total Black Hawk County $270,000
Buchanan County Disaster Recovery Committee $30,000 Buchanan Victim Relief - individual asst./case advocates September
Total Buchanan County $30,000
Waverly Shellrock Area United Way $10,000 Bremer Victim Relief and Immediate Capacity Building July
Total Bremer County $10,000
North Central Iowa Growth Partnership $75,000 Cerro Gordo Small Business Recovery July
Total Cerro Gordo County $75,000
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque $30,000 Clayton Victim Relief - major appliances September
Total Clayton County $30,000
Delaware County Disaster Recovery Committee $35,000 Delaware Victim Relief – individual needs September
Total Delaware County $35,000
American Red Cross of the Tri States Chapter $25,000 Dubuque Immediate Emergency June
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque $25,000 Dubuque Immediate Emergency June
Total Dubuque County $50,000
American Red Cross - Grant Wood Area Chapter $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of Johnson County $70,000 Johnson Immediate Capacity Building,
Small Business Recovery, Victim Relief July
Community Foundation of Johnson County $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
Salvation Army $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
United Way of Johnson County $25,000 Johnson Immediate Emergency June
Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce $15,000 Johnson Small Business Recovery September
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity $45,000 Johnson Immediate Victim Relief September
Total Johnson County $230,000
American Red Cross - Grant Wood Area Chapter $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation $300,000 Linn Victim Relief, Small Business Recovery, July
Immediate Capacity Building
The Salvation Army $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
United Way of East Central Iowa $25,000 Linn Immediate Emergency June
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation $150,000 Linn Small Business Recovery, Victim Relief September
Total Linn County $550,000
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
Community Foundation of the Great River Bend $25,000 Louisa Immediate Emergency June
Community Foundation of the Great River Bend $25,000 Louisa Victim Relief July
Community Foundation of the Great River Bend $25,000 Louisa Victim Relief, Immediate Capacity Building September
Total Louisa County $75,000
Mahaska County Conservation Board $10,000 Mahaska Immediate Capacity Building July
Total Mahaska County $10,000
Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine $25,000 Muscatine Immediate Emergency June
Total Muscatine County $25,000
American Red Cross, Central Iowa Chapter $50,000 Polk Victim Relief July
Greater DM Community Foundation $25,000 Polk Immediate Emergency June
Polk County Housing Trust Fund $25,000 Polk Victim Relief July
Central Iowa Recovery Network $50,000 Polk Victim Relief - direct asst./case advocacy September
Total Polk County $150,000
United Way of Quad Cities Area $25,000 Scott Immediate Emergency June
Total Scott County $25,000
United Way and Community Foundation of
Northwest Iowa $25,000 Webster Victim Relief – September
grants to homeowners/case advocates
Total Webster County $25,000
ORGANIZATION AMOUNT COUNTY PURPOSE MONTH 08
Wright County Charitable Foundation $50,000 Wright Victim Relief, Small Business Assistance September
Total Wright County $50,000
Total Grants as of 8/31/08 $1,640,000
After The Flood - Meeting notes from 9/11
The first speaker talked about the difference between a Green belt concept which is designating an area around a development city or area that provides a natural barrier limiting sprawl growth and dividing the community from the surrounding area and greenway which is a buffer along a designated area could be a river area that would have a green space designated to allow for flooding and would allow other activities that wouldn't be affected by flooding. This speaker also talked about FAIR the land issue that's on the ballot this fall to purchase so may acres of land in Johnson County over an extended period of years to protect natural areas. Jim Throgmorten discussed more directly the Cedar Rapids flooding issues and talked about long term planning and changes that could occur looking at European standards that allow building in flood prone areas utilizing construction principles that aren't affected by flooding. The last speaker was Connie Mutel very interesting talk about the history of soils and water retention and flooding in Johnson County over the last 150 years. The program is going to be shown on Channel 4 after its been produced I'll let you know if I hear of the air date. They did not provide insight to clear answers about flood mitigation at this point although it was suggested that we all start working together scientists planners, politicians, and citizens alike to understand the watershed and changing the current way we do things.
In the past year I have brought together the local entities UI Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation District, USGS, IDNR Geological Survey Bureau and City staff , Iowa River Greenbelt, local watershed coalitions to colloboraberate on all of the projects and science that are going on in our watershed. Senators Joe Bolcolm and Mary Lundbe both met with and were interested in legislative long term planning. I plan on getting this group back together this fall don't have it scheduled yet but expect the urgency to work together to be higher.
Thats about it for now.
Thanks,
Carol Sweeting
Flood Recovery
Iowa City Public Works
Public Information, Education, Volunteer Coordinator
410 E Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Ph. 319-356-5164
Cell 319-541-2385
Fax. 319-356-5007
In the past year I have brought together the local entities UI Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation District, USGS, IDNR Geological Survey Bureau and City staff , Iowa River Greenbelt, local watershed coalitions to colloboraberate on all of the projects and science that are going on in our watershed. Senators Joe Bolcolm and Mary Lundbe both met with and were interested in legislative long term planning. I plan on getting this group back together this fall don't have it scheduled yet but expect the urgency to work together to be higher.
Thats about it for now.
Thanks,
Carol Sweeting
Flood Recovery
Iowa City Public Works
Public Information, Education, Volunteer Coordinator
410 E Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Ph. 319-356-5164
Cell 319-541-2385
Fax. 319-356-5007
Project Recovery Help
A Message Regarding the Iowa Recovery and Relief Effort
Now three months after deadly tornados and disastrous flooding in Iowa, many survivors of these natural disasters are still in critical need of assistance to rebuild their lives. It is important for all of us to understand that survivors need help long after the aggressive initial recovery efforts have tapered off. Many Iowans are without permanent homes and are doubling up with friends or relatives. Others lost jobs and are dealing with financial stress. This can result in overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and loss.
We helped one another recover from the physical part of the disaster. Now we must do the same to help survivors deal with delayed stress. That’s where Project Recovery Iowa comes in.
Project Recovery Iowa
Project Recovery Iowa is a disaster mental health program that provides counseling to those affected by this year’s natural disasters. This Iowa Department of Human Services program empowers survivors, teaches coping skills, assesses immediate needs, and guides people to resources for ongoing support.
Services Provided
Telephone crisis counseling and referral assistance is free statewide. Additional in-person crisis counseling is free (supported by a federal grant) in 29 counties with the most damage and is provided in the survivor’s home, a temporary living site, or any place where the survivor feels comfortable.
Services provided include:
Individual and Group Crisis Counseling. A strength-based approach to help people access and identify resources that will aid in the recovery process.
Educational Services. On-site supportive, educational, face-to-face interventions with individuals and communities.
Referrals. In some cases, survivors may need long-term, more formal mental health services beyond immediate services. Referrals are made to an appropriate agency or licensed mental health professional or to other specific disaster services available through DHS.
Reaching Out to Survivors is Important
Governor Chet Culver has urged Iowans who need mental health services to use the Project Recovery Iowa program, a mental health program that provides free crisis counseling to Iowans affected by this year’s natural disasters.
“As Governor, I am committed to returning life to normal in those communities affected, and that is why I encourage Iowans to reach out to the Project Recovery Iowa mental health program. This free program will help those who have been affected get a sense of control back in their lives and will move us farther down the road to recovery.”
“The stress of a traumatic experience often takes weeks to surface, and we have to be mindful that children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable,” said Allen Parks, administrator of the Mental Health and Disability Services division of the Iowa Department of Human Services.
“Especially with cold weather coming soon to Iowa, it is imperative for us to reach out to Iowans needing counseling and additional resources for ongoing support.”
Call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985
The Iowa Concern Hotline is the entry point for Project Recovery Iowa services. Confidential counseling is available 24/7. Counselors can provide immediate assistance and will make referrals if needed.
More information? See “Crisis Counseling” at dhs.iowa.gov
Now three months after deadly tornados and disastrous flooding in Iowa, many survivors of these natural disasters are still in critical need of assistance to rebuild their lives. It is important for all of us to understand that survivors need help long after the aggressive initial recovery efforts have tapered off. Many Iowans are without permanent homes and are doubling up with friends or relatives. Others lost jobs and are dealing with financial stress. This can result in overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and loss.
We helped one another recover from the physical part of the disaster. Now we must do the same to help survivors deal with delayed stress. That’s where Project Recovery Iowa comes in.
Project Recovery Iowa
Project Recovery Iowa is a disaster mental health program that provides counseling to those affected by this year’s natural disasters. This Iowa Department of Human Services program empowers survivors, teaches coping skills, assesses immediate needs, and guides people to resources for ongoing support.
Services Provided
Telephone crisis counseling and referral assistance is free statewide. Additional in-person crisis counseling is free (supported by a federal grant) in 29 counties with the most damage and is provided in the survivor’s home, a temporary living site, or any place where the survivor feels comfortable.
Services provided include:
Individual and Group Crisis Counseling. A strength-based approach to help people access and identify resources that will aid in the recovery process.
Educational Services. On-site supportive, educational, face-to-face interventions with individuals and communities.
Referrals. In some cases, survivors may need long-term, more formal mental health services beyond immediate services. Referrals are made to an appropriate agency or licensed mental health professional or to other specific disaster services available through DHS.
Reaching Out to Survivors is Important
Governor Chet Culver has urged Iowans who need mental health services to use the Project Recovery Iowa program, a mental health program that provides free crisis counseling to Iowans affected by this year’s natural disasters.
“As Governor, I am committed to returning life to normal in those communities affected, and that is why I encourage Iowans to reach out to the Project Recovery Iowa mental health program. This free program will help those who have been affected get a sense of control back in their lives and will move us farther down the road to recovery.”
“The stress of a traumatic experience often takes weeks to surface, and we have to be mindful that children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable,” said Allen Parks, administrator of the Mental Health and Disability Services division of the Iowa Department of Human Services.
“Especially with cold weather coming soon to Iowa, it is imperative for us to reach out to Iowans needing counseling and additional resources for ongoing support.”
Call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985
The Iowa Concern Hotline is the entry point for Project Recovery Iowa services. Confidential counseling is available 24/7. Counselors can provide immediate assistance and will make referrals if needed.
More information? See “Crisis Counseling” at dhs.iowa.gov
Financial Help - Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Financial Help
I spoke with a person on the phone and they encouraged me to apply. They have rather low income requirements to be elgible, but they may remove or bump them up depending on the number of apps received.
Here is a link: http://www.iowavalleyhabitat.org/flood.relief.cfm
You do need to call them to get an app mailed to you. Phone:319-338-5687
I spoke with a person on the phone and they encouraged me to apply. They have rather low income requirements to be elgible, but they may remove or bump them up depending on the number of apps received.
Here is a link: http://www.iowavalleyhabitat.org/flood.relief.cfm
You do need to call them to get an app mailed to you. Phone:319-338-5687
Water Service - Important Notice
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
HELP US HELP YOU!
Date: September 17, 2008
From: Ed Moreno, Water Division Superintendent
Re: Water Services – Parkview Terrace, Idyllwild, Taft Speedway Dr.
We are concerned that your home may not be occupied prior to cold weather and will not have heat. There is a potential for frozen pipes if the water service is left on.
If you plan on occupying your home and/or want the water service left active, please contact the Water Division Customer Service Office at 356-5160 or e-mail Jude Moss at jude-moss@iowa-city.org.
If we do not hear from you by September 26, 2008, we will assume your home will be unoccupied and we will inactivate your water service by shutting water off at the stop box outside.
Thank you for your assistance.
HELP US HELP YOU!
Date: September 17, 2008
From: Ed Moreno, Water Division Superintendent
Re: Water Services – Parkview Terrace, Idyllwild, Taft Speedway Dr.
We are concerned that your home may not be occupied prior to cold weather and will not have heat. There is a potential for frozen pipes if the water service is left on.
If you plan on occupying your home and/or want the water service left active, please contact the Water Division Customer Service Office at 356-5160 or e-mail Jude Moss at jude-moss@iowa-city.org.
If we do not hear from you by September 26, 2008, we will assume your home will be unoccupied and we will inactivate your water service by shutting water off at the stop box outside.
Thank you for your assistance.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
NPR Storycorp focusing on the flood
From: McGuire, Steve
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:20 PM
To: PTV Email List
Subject: StoryCorp and PVT
Hi Bob,Can you share my email on the blog? I am hoping folks might consider participating in the NPR StoryCorp coming to Iowa city, which will be focussed on the flood. It would be terrific to have an oral record of this summer and the flood. In partnership with NPR's StoryCorps, the UI Libraries will be asking people throughout the community to share their flood stories. Documenting this historic event through a new collection is the Libraries' way of thanking the hundreds of people who helped move books out of harm's way when the Main Library was evacuated on Friday, June 13. I encourage you to participate. All you need is a good story (and we have plenty of them in the Flats) and someone to help you tell it. For more information about the project and to register to participate you can check the website http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/events/floodstories .
Best, Steve
S-Mcquire@uiowa.edu
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:20 PM
To: PTV Email List
Subject: StoryCorp and PVT
Hi Bob,Can you share my email on the blog? I am hoping folks might consider participating in the NPR StoryCorp coming to Iowa city, which will be focussed on the flood. It would be terrific to have an oral record of this summer and the flood. In partnership with NPR's StoryCorps, the UI Libraries will be asking people throughout the community to share their flood stories. Documenting this historic event through a new collection is the Libraries' way of thanking the hundreds of people who helped move books out of harm's way when the Main Library was evacuated on Friday, June 13. I encourage you to participate. All you need is a good story (and we have plenty of them in the Flats) and someone to help you tell it. For more information about the project and to register to participate you can check the website http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/events/floodstories .
Best, Steve
S-Mcquire@uiowa.edu
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Porta Potties Removed from PTV
Just an FYI - The porta potties have been removed in the neighborhood.
Please let me know if this represents an inconvenience for those of you working on your house.
I think the bathrooms by the Tennis Courts in City Park may be open.
Please let me know if this represents an inconvenience for those of you working on your house.
I think the bathrooms by the Tennis Courts in City Park may be open.
Future Flood Mitigation on November Ballot
I wanted to tell you about something that's a major concern to me - a conservation initiative on the Nov ballot, to raise money for Johnson Cty to purchase more natural area/open space lands (including> recreational lands). This is my passion - but I also think that it's vitally important in terms of future flood mitigation, and maintaining our quality of life here in many many ways. People still don't seem to> know about this initiative - so I am telling everyone I know about it - please consider voting "yes" on Nov 4 - the initiative will be on the BACK side of the ballot, so you have to look for it. Here's more info:
http://www.landwaterfuture.org/
http://www.landwaterfuture.org/
Monday, September 8, 2008
FEMA Contact Info
FYI
I have tracked down a contact for our citizens that are struggling with the FEMA hotlines. They can contact Keri Neblett local contact for FEMA Longterm Recovery she is at the Crisis Center and can look at individuals cases as long as they have signed up and have a FEMA number assigned to them. Keri can be reached at 319-351-2726 or kneblett@jccrisiscenter.org
Thanks,
Carol Sweeting
Flood Recovery
Iowa City Public Works
Public Information, Education, Volunteer Coordinator
410 E Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Ph. 319-356-5164
Cell 319-541-2385
Fax. 319-356-5007
I have tracked down a contact for our citizens that are struggling with the FEMA hotlines. They can contact Keri Neblett local contact for FEMA Longterm Recovery she is at the Crisis Center and can look at individuals cases as long as they have signed up and have a FEMA number assigned to them. Keri can be reached at 319-351-2726 or kneblett@jccrisiscenter.org
Thanks,
Carol Sweeting
Flood Recovery
Iowa City Public Works
Public Information, Education, Volunteer Coordinator
410 E Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Ph. 319-356-5164
Cell 319-541-2385
Fax. 319-356-5007
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