Some Iowans Say State, Federal Derecho Response Has Been Too Slow

Cedar Rapids, IA — Iowa homes, farms and businesses suffered an estimated loss of $4 billion in the derecho storm that pummeled the Midwest on Aug. 10, and residents have been displeased by what they say has been a slow federal and state response, according to a Star-Tribune report.

The derecho, a straight-line windstorm cut a 40-mile swath through the heart of the state with winds of up to 112 mph. The storm killed three people and injured more than 60.

Relief efforts were hampered by the loss of communications and power, as well as the dangers posed by downed power lines and impassable streets. Still, across the region, residents said the official response to the disaster has been too little, too late.

“I believe the majority of everything is moving forward,” Joyce Flinn, director of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said Friday. The official response has been complicated by the many different agencies involved, she said.

To read the full story, click here.

Related Articles:

Grain Talk Podcast: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Aftermath of the Aug. 10 Derecho Storm (15 min)

Video: Key Cooperative, IA Updates Derecho Damage Recovery Efforts

Watch Now: Sukup Video Explains Why Grain Bins Sustained Significant Damage During Monday's Storms in Iowa