Flooding Relief in NW Iowa
– Give or Volunteer for Iowa Disaster Relief
Iowa Disaster Relief (Iowa DR) has been very active this year. Recently, they responded to massive flooding in Northwest Iowa. Iowa DR Director Gared Shaffer has been busy, putting in around 20 hours coordinating relief efforts.
After a several year hiatus, Iowa Disaster Relief resumed activities earlier this year with a DR101 training session in Bettendorf on February 24th, attended by more than 20 volunteers. This relaunch was timely, as Iowa has experienced an unusual amount of extreme weather this spring. We’ve faced an unprecedented number of disasters in one season, including two tornado callouts. One tornado in Greenfield was particularly notable, with winds over 300 mph, making it one of the largest on record.
The most recent activation has been in response to the severe flooding in Northwest Iowa, caused by 12 to 15 inches of rain in one day. This has resulted in the worst flooding to hit the region in many years.
Disaster relief efforts currently involve SBC state conventions from four states. Two hubs are coordinating these efforts: Nebraska/Kansas Disaster Relief is managing the Incident Command Center in Sioux City, and Missouri Disaster Relief is operating another center in Spencer. These centers handle housing, showers, laundry, and feeding for volunteers, as well as deploying chaplains and assessing and assigning relief work. Once local governments have assessed the damage and condemned properties that are beyond repair, another phase of flood recovery will begin.
What’s Next with Iowa DR?
Iowa Disaster Relief volunteers who have completed the DR101 training are qualified to respond and participate in flood recovery starting July 14th.
Over the next week or two, relief teams are preparing for flood recovery and “mud out” operations. “Mud out” involves removing all wet debris from a flooded home to prevent mold growth and allow the structure to dry out, so reconstruction can begin as soon as possible. Iowa DR Director Gared Shaffer delivered the Iowa DR Flood Recovery trailer to Spencer last week. The trailer will support teams on the ground and help serve many Iowans in crisis.
Want to Get Involved? Give or Volunteer!
1) Give to Iowa DR
One way that churches or individuals can get involved right now is to donate to the Iowa DR fund. Just visit the Iowa DR webpage on the BCI website and click on the “Give” button. 100% of the funds given through that form will go towards disaster relief efforts.
2) Volunteer for Iowa DR
Anyone interested in volunteering must complete the DR101 training class. We are pleased to announce that there will be a last-minute training in Northwest Iowa for volunteers desiring to serve. The session will be on Saturday, July 13th, from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm in Milford, Iowa at the Okoboji Middle School (1800 6th St, Milford, Iowa).
