News

Cedar Rapids and the Flood of 2008

Jeri Shumate, 211info, June, 2008

Statistics about the needs people describe when they call 2-1-1 were released a few weeks ago.  It was almost not surprising that in 2007 only 1.4% of those calls were related to disasters.  Even though there’s been tremendous press about 2-1-1’s role in disaster response, most of us sense in our hearts that it’s not the “real” work we do.

But when the disaster hits your community and 2-1-1 is called into action, your world changes forever.  I had the opportunity to work at the 2-1-1 call center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa the third week after that region experienced epic floods, floods that exceeded not only the carefully defined 100 Year Flood Plain but even the 500 Year Flood Plain, floods that defied all possible preparation and planning.

It is a testimonial to the readiness of Cedar Rapids that, while more than 7,000 buildings were impacted…not a single life was lost due to the flooding.  That is profound.  In spite of the magnitude of the flood, this community was as ready as it could possibly be.  Part of that readiness included the fact that 2-1-1 was involved in planning and exercising.

During that third week after the event, calls to 2-1-1 continued to reflect the shifts and changes in the community’s recovery.

• On the first day we learned that a group of Buddhists from the Tzu Chi community were arriving to hand out debit cards to those affected by the floods—blankets and $500 debit cards.  We managed information that directed people to that amazing new resource.
• When the imminent arrival of 50 manufactured homes from FEMA hit the press, everyone wanted to know how they could sign up for a “FEMA trailer.”
• By Thursday, (the Fourth of July) people were calling to find out where the fireworks would be held…since downtown was a long way from being back in business.
• But there were still folks trying to find where to get a shower, because they were still living in their cars and needed to clean up before going to work.

There were the (somewhat) humorous calls—did we know where the caller could get a cage for her ferret?  The critter was not coping well with the dogs and cats!  One caller told such a tearful story about having no food that a compassionate-but-naïve volunteer ordered a pizza to be delivered to her home.  There were folks who just needed to talk, of course, sometimes ranting about government or people abusing the help.

So I guess it comes full-circle one more time, that basic truth about all information and referral services.  Even with all the preparation you think you have in place, you may not be really ready.  And even with all the technology you have implemented…in the end, people in a crisis need to talk with somebody else, someone compassionate who also may have answers.  They need to be able to call a simple telephone number and know that someone on the other end will care.

Images of the Flood's Aftermath
Photos by the Author