Story Created:
Sep 29, 2008 at 5:24 PM CST
Story Updated:
Sep 29, 2008 at 9:01 PM CST
CEDAR RAPIDS - Flood victims in one of the hardest-hit cities can start applying for up to $72,000 in state financial aid, on Tuesday morning.
Jumpstart Iowa is a $40-million state program.
Cedar Rapids alone gets nearly half of that money. Homeowners were allocated about $8-million. Small businesses were allocated just more than $12-million.
Cedar Rapids officials said applying for the help will be a two-step process.
"Whatever we can get, we are in need of," said Lorie Coon.
Coon's home was damaged in the flood by two feet of water on the first floor. Monday she called Cedar Rapids city hall to find out about the application process. The city didn't have answers until the afternoon.
In most cities and counties, you'll have to fill out an application either at city hall or on line.
But, for Cedar Rapids residents, starting Tuesday at 8 a.m. all you have to do is call 2-1-1. Then, two weeks later a city representative will meet with you. They'll ask about things like the damage to your home and how much help you've received.
The goal is to hand out money by the end of October for each of the counties and cities.
There's not enough money for everyone, so cities and counties now have to decide if they want to help some people with a lot of money, or help a lot of people with some money.
Cedar Rapids will start tackling that decision on Wednesday at the City Council Meeting.
Each city and county handing out money said they want to give everyone a fair shot, but what puts one home above another will vary in each area.
"This Jump Start money is a great start, it's not a lot of money, it's definitely going to be a competitive application process for sure," said Chad Sands with ECICOG.
Sands is the point person for most of the Eastern Iowa counties like Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Linn and Washington.
Sands said hopefully this one application will be enough so people don't have to apply again when more money becomes available.
If you live in one of these cities, call the corresponding number:
City of Cedar Falls:
Call Bob Seymour at 319.273.8606 or email Bob.Seymour@cedarfalls.com
City of Cedar Rapids
Call 2-1-1
City of Des Moines:
Call Tom Nancarrow at 515.283.4512 or email tjnancarrow@dmgov.org
City of Iowa City:
Call Steve Long at 319.356.5250 or email steve-long@iowa-city.org
City of Waterloo:
Call Rudy Jones at 319.291.4429 or email WaterlooFlood2008@gmail.com
If you DO NOT live in one of the above cities, call your county representative - click HERE for full list.
Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com
; "Click for Pinpoint Doppler Radar")
KCRG-TV9's Position on Commenting |
User Agreement
The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of KCRG-TV9. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 4:23 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Call 319-739-4211. It worked for me.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 4:01 PM HELP!!! wrote ...
Does anyone else have problems calling 211?? Everytime I call from a landline I get the sound as if that number is not valid and from my cell it tells me to enter an area code...HELP PLEASE!!!
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 3:03 PM good grief wrote ...
I think we need to support all of those who lost their home/workplace/business in the flood. Flood insurance isn't available to everyone because insurance companies don't have to offer it depending on where you live. Be compassionate and think about how you would feel if something happened to you! to "just a woman", equity will continue to increase your rent every few months... something they did before the flood - they have been in the news more than once.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 12:18 PM Big John wrote ...
I think the city needs to help a lot of people with some money - to think about giving some people up to 72000 while some get none is absurd. Speard it out so everyone effected gets some additional help
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 10:48 AM Just a woman wrote ...
I do feel very badly for the flood victims, but my husband lost his job because of the flood, and now since we live in a Wonderful home (sarcastic) from equity realtors, they decided to up everyones rent. I think the city needs to look into how these property owners are profiting of of this. This flood affects everyone in different ways and I think we should help where we can. I agree with the money but the city needs to really look into who is getting it, so that those who need it get it.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 10:43 AM Tears in Time Check wrote ...
We don't want more money we NEED more. We got a good chunk from FEMA but it just wasn't even close to enough to move back in. We are virtually homeless, two children 2 and under, what are we going to do. If the government doesn't help us out I honestly don't know what we can do. We want to move back in our home and go back to normal but we are a one income family and life was hard before the flood. We wern't on any assistance before but I just don't see how we're going to make it.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 10:27 AM Poor Taxpayer wrote ...
This is for you tax payer. Who thought this flood would be so bad. Lets take your tax money, and your wallet you idiot!!!!
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 10:20 AM Time Check resident wrote ...
Excuse me, but I have never taken any assistance of any kind before now. I am a hard working individual that has never asked for a single penny before. It's ignorant to just assume people are living off yours & my tax dollars. If we want to compare here, I had 7.5 ft of water on my main level. How am I supposed to rebuild even with my insurance money. Know the facts first!
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 9:18 AM Thanks for nothing, lousy govrnmt! wrote ...
You want 5,000 CR flood victims to call 1 phone number? I do have a job to try to keep, 2 kids to raise, & a house to rebuild! And now you want me to drop it all to try to reach someone at 211 when all I get is a busy signal! Before the flood, we were independent of any state assistance but since the flood, I have spent hours on the phone with FEMA, over 8 hours in line for the American Red Cross, and many hours for eveything else and now this?! I just want my life back!
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 9:12 AM To Taxpayer From KT wrote ...
Go move elsewhere. If it happened to you, you wouldn't be such an insensitive "donkey". Taxes arent high here, go live in another large city and see what your payin then! People need help. Some didnt have flood ins because they lived outside the 500 yr flood plain, or even in the 500 yr flood plain. Its called a 500 year flood plan for a reason. You bashers need to walk a mile in a flood victims shoes for a month. See how "GREAT" this flood has been. *rolls eyes*
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 9:11 AM flood victim wrote ...
my home/business were damaged by the flood.im on the border of the 500 plan.couldnt have flood ins.1200 from fema,denied by sba.its going to cost over 30k.fema says its not escential.i do not live on welfare & never have.i pay my taxes yet everyone turns their cheek.does someone want to explain why?i dont doubt there are ppl taking advantage of this whole situation.why punish the rest of us?why is it that since i didnt loose my home i shouldnt get assistance?its not fair.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 8:53 AM under water wrote ...
Lets see if the city can get this one right...
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 8:52 AM What Happened!?! wrote ...
What ever happened to the compassion we showed so proudly during the first part of cleanup? Since when are we the ones to pass judgement. Bottom line - we were all affected...and we are all hurting and lacking our "normal" life. Let's not forget: We come into this life with nothing, and leave this life with nothing...it's the relationships in between that are worth anything...and being selfish is certainly not a relationship I would want.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 8:33 AM Flood affected-3rd Ave SW wrote ...
To TAXPAYER- What would you suggest? Leave thousands of people homeless and without jobs, and put the tax dollars into a rainforest or park?
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 8:27 AM Flood Victim wrote ...
To the Taxpayer poster listed above- If you had been affected and had very little money to recover, I dont think you would feel the same way. That's what taxes are for. What would you suggest? Having everyone homeless and lose their jobs?
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 8:18 AM Ellis Blvd 500 Yr Flood Plain wrote ...
1st - I HAD NO INSURANCE BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAIN. I even TRIED to get insurance, but my insurance co. would not sell it to me because I wasn't in the 500 year flood plain. 2-I AM A TAXPAYER. Enough said. 3- Tell me how I am supposed to fix a house with 5 feet of water on my main level with 20k?That extra assistance is needed. Besides, TAXPAYER: I'm not laughing - where's the punchline? Time chk- I didn't get ANYTHING other than 20k. I do STILL have a mrtg pmt!
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 7:41 AM Agree wrote ...
I agree with Time check resident. It is sad that those paying for flood insurance are getting penalized on funding and I would bet with taxpayers comments, we are probably paying for them in some way also. They are probably on food stamps or something. They are usually the ones to complain most about helping others when they are being helped all their life.
Tuesday, Sep 30 at 6:54 AM Taxpayer wrote ...
No wonder our taxes are so high! People should be responsible for there own problems without the rest of us having to finance them. People are definitely taking advantage of all this flood aid. What a joke this is! A joke on the taxpayers that is!
Monday, Sep 29 at 10:27 PM Time Check resident wrote ...
I believe the city needs to help a lot of people with smaller amounts of money instead of giving a lot of money to few people. I don't agree with the process so far of how money is handed out & this is a way for things to start to be more fair. I had insurance & therefore I have been given little for extra assistance. I don't believe I should be penalized for buying insurance. That is something that I had to pay for & now people without insurance are getting more money than I am.
Add a comment
Most Popular