Stories

CEDAR RAPIDS — There was very little pomp and circumstance surrounding First Lady Mari Culver’s volunteer work Wednesday on one of 20 homes under construction by Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity. The legions of twenty-something volunteers maneuvered amid the the houses on Cedar Rapids’ far west side, measuring vinyl siding, hauling bundles of shingles to bare rooftops while barking occasional orders to one other.

Although few Iowa residents are unaware of the continued challenges facing Cedar Rapids in the wake of last year’s unprecedented flooding, people elsewhere are waking up today to news that the state’s second-largest city still has a long journey to recovery.
Betsy Rubiner, writing for Time Magazine, has provided those outside of Iowa an intimate look [...]

One of the most poignant moments of the flood commemoration ceremony held Saturday morning was when the five members of the Cedar Rapids City Council each took a bouquet of flowers and placed them into the Cedar River.
“These flowers, a symbol of hope, represent all that was lost: Homes, belongings, businesses, momentum and dreams — [...]

Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, who serves as Gov. Chet Culver’s point-person for disaster recovery efforts, said visiting Cedar Rapids evoked a mix of emotions.

One year after massive floods washed over Iowa’s second-largest city and surrounding areas, many Linn County residents believe too many government roadblocks remain on the road to full recovery.

A year ago, Iowa’s second-largest city was devoured by flood waters, claiming 10-square miles of Cedar Rapids, an area that included several residential neighborhoods as well as the downtown and cultural districts. While no individuals lost their lives during the floods, the economic damage remains staggering. Progress has been made in Cedar Rapids [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — State and federal officials held a joint press conference Wednesday and pledged both to cut government red tape tangling flood recovery funding and to promote a new climate of natural disaster prevention.

Nearly one year ago the small Iowa town of Palo was decimated by flood waters as the entire town was evacuated. This past weekend, elected officials and volunteers delivered baskets of flowers as their thanks to those who have returned and begun the rebuilding process.
“My father’s home in Palo was one that was flooded last [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — Sometimes it is the little things that make getting back to “normal” seem possible. Visiting a favorite park or watching as children play on debris-free sidewalks all add to an overall feeling of well-being.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette has been awarded the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for deadline reporting for its coverage of the floods of 2008.
The award, given out annually by the Society of Professional Journalists for excellence in journalism, will be presented during the SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference August 27-30 in Indianapolis, Ind.
On his [...]