The Federal Emergency Management Agency says nearly 15,000 Iowans have already registered for individual storm recovery assistance, and over $7 million has already been distributed.
"We have received at this point 14,686 registrations which is a very large number…an indication of just what a large disaster this really is," FEMA regional manager Dick Hainje said this morning at a news conference in Cedar Rapids.
Additional FEMA mobile disaster recovery centers opened up today to make it easier for flood victims to apply for help. FEMA inspectors have fanned out across the state to assess damaged homes and property, including a large group in Cedar Rapids. "So when people call and they try to arrange to have somebody meet them at their home right now there’s 145 inspectors and we will just increase that number if need be," Hainje said.
Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham says two main areas remain flooded in Cedar Rapids — the Time Check district and Czech Village. The entire area originally underwater is still being constantly patrolled. "We’re still going to have a curfew tonight from 8 p.m. ’til 7 a.m. for the entire the flood-affected area," Graham says. "We’ve not lost a single life due to the flood and we’ve only had one report of looting."
The chief says as the waters recede, each day they’re pulling the barricades back and letting more people into their homes and businesses. Bridges are now open downtown, but traffic signals are not yet operating.