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

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)

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!

Flood Recovery and Buyout Process Resource Center Updated

Much more flood info:

Flood Recovery & Buyout Process Resource Center

Be sure to click on Learn More....items for additional information

and the New Voluntary Flood Buyout Map (10/20/2008)

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.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.
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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

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

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

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

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.

Rebuild or Sell

Article from the Iowa City Press Citizen

Flooded homeowners: Rebuild houses or sell?

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

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.

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!

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.