Monday, August 4, 2008
The Start Of The Tour
Today, I began my travels in Coralville where I met with mayor Jim Fausett, City Manager Kelly Hayworth, City Council member Mitch Gross (who was once an intern in my office), and Rebecca Needs from the Chamber of Commerce, to tour places that were damaged by the floods. We began at the Old Chicago restaurant and chatted with the owner, who told us about his reconstruction efforts. We then went out back to take a look at the Crandic Railroad which served as not only a railway, but also a levee. Unfortunately it was breached – and caused nearly 150 businesses to be flooded. I’m hopeful that the track can be raised to provide greater protections for the businesses in downtown Coralville.
Next we headed to the Coralville Transit Facility, which was completely devastated.
After touring some businesses in Coralville, I had the opportunity to go to the Edgewater area of town where I chatted with Karroll and Diane Kurtz. They were unfortunately displaced by the floods and are now living in a FEMA trailer. Even though they have been through so much, they are staying positive.
Then we headed up to Cedar Rapids where I joined Senator Grassley at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. It was a shock to see the damage to this Iowa treasure. I remember the dedication of this facility in 1995 when President Clinton and the presidents of the Czech and Slovak Republics participated in the proceedings. As I was driving down 6th Avenue today, I saw Sykora’s Bakery where President Clinton and I enjoyed kolaches.
Next stop was the Federal Courthouse in Cedar Rapids. We toured the first floor, however, the lower level where the ICN Room and the U.S. Marshall’s office was located was off limits because of the biohazard. We met with Judge Michael Malloy and Judge Linda Read of the Northern District to discuss the critical importance of a new courthouse for Cedar Rapids.
After a quick stop at Dairy Queen in Mt. Vernon, we headed to a Rochester, a small town in Cedar County. I met with 25 residents, including Merle and Diane Waltz, whose home was destroyed by the floods. Parts of the town sit on opposite sides of the Cedar River, and so travel through town is nearly impossible after the bridge was washed out. During the meeting, I received word that HUD had released $80 million for buyouts and repairs of homes in Iowa. These dollars were part of the $2.65 billion Congress delivered immediately after the floods hit Iowa. I will continue to push HUD to release the rest of the dollars for affected Iowans who are waiting to find out which steps to take next.
Overall, my travels today were very eye-opening. Returning to see all the damage caused by the recent natural disasters really put into perspective what Iowans need to fully recover. I will continue to work to ensure the people and businesses that were affected will get what they need to rebuild their lives.
