Palo Residents Get First Glimpse of Damage
By Photo Journalist, Jonathan Gregg
By
(BI) Andrew Geisthardt
Story Created:
Jun 16, 2008 at 9:04 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jun 17, 2008 at 3:31 PM CST
PALO - Many residents of Palo got their first glimpse of what the floodwaters left behind Monday.
Today more families got the first look at the home after evacuating the town nearly a week ago. The firefighters and building inspectors are checking each and every home looking for dangerous levels of gas, toxic fumes and a sturdy foundation.
The concern at this point and time is making sure the foundations are good and solid so they can come in and rebuild.
As long as the water table is up residents need to be advised to stay out of the basements.
They were on the floor when it shook and a large portion of the foundation caved in.
Something cracked and banged and I came out and felt the floor buckle underneath. We came out around the house and the basement wall collapsed in. It took the air concern, gas meter and everything else. And the garden is now in the basement.
The floodwaters are receding and the ground is saturated leaving many homes vulnerable. I have been riding along this morning and they say there are 400 homes in the city and the city plans to have all of the homes initially inspected by the end of the day.
If your house has a yellow placecard on the door/window, the homeower is allows limited entry. You are allowed to clean or remove items, but you are not allowed to occupy the residence.
If your house has an orange placecard on the door/window, the property is unsafe to enter. Do not enter the building. It is not, however, a condemnation order.
Call 319-892-5130 with questions or for information.
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Tuesday, Jun 17 at 9:29 PM viewer/listener from Marion wrote ...
I think it is just ridiculous that everyone is criticizing the media, the town supervisors, the city governments. Those in glass houses should not throw rocks! Get off your butts and get out there and volunteer. Yes it is a shame that there was so much damage and it was so widespread, but for pete's sake, I believe that which does not kill us will make us stronger! You could not get in because people had been hurt and it wasn't safe. God forbid anyone thinks of another person's safety!
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 6:13 PM RE: 7:24 AM More proof reading wrote ...
U think yoour such a good riter. I guess u dont no that u don't start a senetence with the word "and". Dont bother corecting thiz, I DONT KARE!
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 4:48 PM Anonymous wrote ...
You should work at United Fire & Casualty- that company is the best!! Not only do we all still have jobs, while we are out of work, our company is paying us. They really know how to watch out for their employees. There is NO better company to work for.
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 4:45 PM I have the answers dont know why I am not president wrote ...
I went to Palo today with a close friend of mine. Luckily, only his basement flooded. The water came about 8” from his floor joists. Another friend in Palo didn’t fare as well. The FEMA rep was rather unimpressed with the local management of the crisis. I guess it's a good thing that this doesn't happen to us very often, but it certainly could have been handled better. Communication could be improved. I feel terribly for the people of that community. @#$DO#@ Next time you are in charge.
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 4:41 PM Mad... wrote ...
I can understand the frustration. We live in Atkins, and had damage last week also. You think that anyone will let you know what is going on? NO!! You call one person and they always ask if you called FEMA. Of course we called!! THe problem is that they still do not have the FEMA station set up. EXCUSE ME??? Yes, they still are not set up for Benton Co. When I called FEMA this morning, they said that Linn, Benton, nad Johnson Co. still did not have sites set up. No one tells you anything!
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 1:51 PM by h ave levee break in cr wrote ...
while everyones on here sitiing on there butts judging everyone but not out helping a friend or neighbor out or even a stranger in need...I THINK ALL LAW OFFICIALS,ALLIANT,MID AMERICAN,QWEST,TV9 AND ANY OTHERS INCLUDING THE LAW OFFICALS FROM DIFFERENT STATES ,ARMY ECT HAVE ALL DONE A WONDERFUL JOB KEEPING ALL OF US SAFE.....LETS STOP RUNNING OUT MOUTHS AND REBUILD THIS CITY...WE ARE CEDAR RAPIDS,IOWA AND WE WILL GET THIS JOB DONE....
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 1:48 PM Whisky_NW wrote ...
I went to Palo today with a close friend of mine. Luckily, only his basement flooded. The water came about 8” from his floor joists. Another friend in Palo didn’t fare as well. The FEMA rep was rather unimpressed with the local management of the crisis. I guess it's a good thing that this doesn't happen to us very often, but it certainly could have been handled better. Communication could be improved. I feel terribly for the people of that community.
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 10:17 AM Good Riddance wrote ...
The Andy Griffith show called....they wanted him back.
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 9:39 AM Hey Susan... wrote ...
Why do you feel that the CEO of Mercy should pay us for doing nothing? Yes it will be a hardship to not get paid or have to use up paid leave, but many many people that work downtown are in the same boat. What is it with this country, they think they should get paid all the time for nothing. Your are just like the greedy wives after 9/11, thinking they should still get thier husbands' salaries after they passed away!
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 9:28 AM anonymous wrote ...
So now everyone is considered to be perfect? That's cool. NO more mistakes for anyone for now on.. yeah okay. Oops, there should be 3 periods there, right? Seriously, why not stay at the situation at hand!
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 9:26 AM JB wrote ...
I'm sure that the inspectors and city officials are doing the best that they can to get these homes inspected to allow residents to return. Give them a little slack, this is overwhelming to them as well, and they are human. These things take time, and be grateful that someone is willing to go into your home and make sure it is safe for you to enter, after everything else, isn't being alive worth the few extra days it may take to be sure your home isn't in life threatening condition?
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 9:21 AM Chris & Ted Ross wrote ...
Hello fellow eastern iowans, WE used to live in Palo and really regret moving away. We used to live at 52 Thompson Dr, and have been scanning the media looking for updates on our old home there. We want the residents of Palo to know our thoughts are with you, and we hope for a fast recovery. We now live in Pleasant Hill, and although there were evacuations near us, we were not affected by the Des Moines River flooding. Good luck to all-Chris
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 8:48 AM palo hawk wrote ...
It sure is a shame that a week after our community fought so hard and worked so closely together that we now have such chaos and anger. we should all be thankfull for our towns efforts and we should all rest easy knowing that there are still people in palo that are going to continue helping everyone until the job is complete. I would only hope that my kids remember what it felt like to see so many people helping each other last week. God bless us all! we will pull through this.
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 8:40 AM Anonymous wrote ...
I think some people are too focused on the proof reading, rather than being thankful that we are getting the news....
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 8:30 AM And another thing... wrote ...
Everytime you drive by the camper in Covington that is the new/temp "City Hall" they are standing out there laughing and talking and sitting in lawn chairs. The other day when no one was getting let in, one guy actually drove down there and parked his car behind the Road closed sign and got out of his car and was looking at everything through benoculars....cowards!!
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 8:21 AM I.O.W.A. wrote ...
What did happen to Russ? I don't think we ever got the real story.
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 7:24 AM Just reward wrote ...
Good thing they railroaded Russ out of town, you get what you deserve!
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 7:24 AM More proof reading wrote ...
"Alot" should be "a lot" and "atleast" should be "at least". I think "Also" should be followed by a comma. I hope the short-term "safe" solution of limited access doesn't turn into a long-term mold problem. The flood caused cosmetic damage to my basement but not being able to remove it could allow mold to grow throughout the house. And I don't think the City of Palo deserves any kudos. The website is slow to be updated, the phones are busy, the person answering is clueless. More later.
Tuesday, Jun 17 at 6:51 AM Susan wrote ...
I am very disappointed with the CEO of Mercy Hospital. At a meeting last week, he informed the staff that everyone would have a job and would continue to receive pay because they would be utilized in the clean-up effort. Yesterday, 6/16 many staff were sent home without pay because "there was nothing to do".
Monday, Jun 16 at 10:44 PM Palo princess wrote ...
Thank you to all the volunteers and officials who have done a thankless job trying to keep us safe and informed. Many of those people are our neighbors and are putting their needs behind ours. This is a lemon given to us by God, so let's see what great lemonade we, as a community, can make of it.
Monday, Jun 16 at 10:39 PM Adam wrote ...
I wonder how many abandoned meth labs they will find. Seriously.
Monday, Jun 16 at 9:30 PM Proof reader wrote ...
There are sure alot of typos in this article. Also atleast from the information on the cities web site they didn't finish today, because I still can't get into Palo to inspect my property.
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