Harkin sees federal shortcomings during Coralville flood tour

Despite Congress’ appropriation of more than $2.65 billion in federal disaster assistance since the floods hit Iowa in June, the money has yet to trickle down to those who need it the most.

Sen. Harkin stands with Karroll and Diane Kurtz in front of their flooded Coralville home

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, learned this firsthand from Karroll and Diane Kurtz during a tour in Coralville. The Kurtzes, whose home was destroyed by the flood, have been living in hotels and with family members before moving into a trailer provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in West Branch three weeks ago.

“We are still waiting to hear whether we will qualify for a home buyout, but we’ve been told that process may not begin happening until March or April,” Karroll Kurtz said.

“This just doesn’t make any sense,” Harkin said. “It can’t be Congress’ fault. We’ve already appropriated over $2 billion. Where is that money? Why isn’t it getting out more? Where are the roadblocks?”

Coralville City Manager Kelly Hayworth responded to Harkin’s rhetorical question, telling him that the city would be willing to front the money for the homes that would be bought out if it could receive guarantees that the city would be reimbursed by the state and federal government.

Meanwhile, the Kurtzes remain in limbo, making the 10-mile commute from West Branch to Iowa City every day for work.

Earlier on the tour, Harkin, accompanied by several Coralville city officials, visited the flood-damaged Old Chicago restaurant on Highway 6 of the Coralville strip. The restaurant was one of many businesses along the north side of the highway that were flooded when the Iowa River crested and spilled over the embankment behind them.

Sen. Harkin tries to get full understanding of unemployment concerns from Old Chicago owner Joe McLaughlin

Harkin was greeted by the restaurant’s owner, Joe McLaughlin, who expressed concerns about not only his unemployed workers but the additional financial hit he will take for paying into the federal unemployment system. “I have 78 employees, 60 of which are still unemployed,” McLaughlin said. “This will cause the rate of my unemployment insurance to shoot up, which will take three years to bring back down to the pre-flood rate.”

“We need to look into that,” Harkin said to one of his staffers, Thomas Larkin.

“There is disaster unemployment, but employees first have to apply for regular unemployment,” Larkin said. “If they don’t qualify for regular, then they can apply for the disaster unemployment.”

Despite the unemployment concerns, McLaughlin remains optimistic Old Chicago will be open by Oct. 1. “Ideally I would like to be open in time for the Iowa-Iowa State football game,” McLaughlin said.

Afterward the tour moved behind Old Chicago to the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway tracks, which runs along the embankment that serves as a levy during flooding. City officials are hoping to elevate a two-mile stretch of the embankment, including the tracks, which will cost an estimated $8 million.

“Doing so will really provide protection for a whole lot of the community,” Hayworth said. “Highway 6 one of the few main arteries connecting Iowa City and provides our community access to the University of Iowa and the VA hospital.”

Harkin stands on railroad track with Coralville City Manager Kelly Hayworth and city councilman Mitch Gross

Harkin also toured the muddied premises of the Transportation Building, where the city used to house and maintain its buses. “These buildings really took a hit during the floods, because they are situated on Clear and Biscuit creeks,” Vicky Robrock, Coralville’s director of transportation, told Harkin.

“This is an unbelievable mess,” Harkin said while stepping through the mud to tour one of the buildings. “You’ve got to get out of here. It doesn’t look as if you can rebuild here, right?”

Coralville Assistant City Administrator Ellen Habel informed the senator that the building was more than 50-percent damaged.

“Parts of the buildings needed updating before the floods,” Robrock said. “Unfortunately FEMA will only provide funding to rebuild these buildings to their pre-flood state, not to rebuild elsewhere.”

Coralville Major Jim Fausett said officials are still looking for a place to rebuild. “In the meantime all we can do is wait for the insurance money, federal funding and make do with what have, so we can keep our buses running.”

“This is the time we need our buses running the most,” Robrock added. “Several community members who lost transportation during the floods have come to depend on city transportation.”