DUBUQUE, Iowa - Dubuque Mayor Roy D. Buol, Dubuque County Supervisors Chairperson Donna Smith, and Dubuque County Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Berger held a media conference this afternoon to provide an update on flood recovery efforts in Dubuque County, report on assistance that local organizations are offering/providing to those communities and other Iowa communities impacted, as well as outline opportunities for local citizens to assist in the aid and recovery process.

City of Dubuque
The City of Dubuque, through the State of Iowa, is part of the Iowa Mutual Aid Compact, as are many of the affected communities. The City of Dubuque is committed to aid these other communities as part of that compact. Additional, a number of City departments are currently offering or providing assistance in several ways:

Airport
- Several Airport staff members are seeking ways to assist.
- Fixed Base Operations (FBO) has fueled multiple National Guard aircraft.
- Dubuque Regional Airport Manager Robert Grierson was activated last week for flood support by the Iowa Army National Guard. Aerial missions included, rescue (if needed), Boy Scout camp post tornado FLIR overflight, flood area aerial survey, transport engineers to inspect bridges, roads, etc. *The constant thunderstorm activity kept us mainly on the ground at Waterloo but I was able to see Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Waverly, Iowa City, and Columbus Junction all real close and
personal,* said Grierson. *I flew floods in *93 and was part of Katrina/Rita in *05. This was right up there with the worst I've ever
seen.*

Building Services
- The Building Services Department has lists of licensed electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors that can be provided other cities. The department has worked with Waterloo, Des Moines and Linn County (including Cedar Rapids) on reciprocity in licensing in the past. The department can also provide letters of license verification to contractors for their use in other jurisdictions.
- The department was also asked this morning to provide an electrical inspector to assist with recovery efforts in Cedar Falls. Electrical Inspector Steven Neyens is scheduled to work Monday and Tuesday of next week in Cedar Falls.
- The Building Services Department can also provide damage assessment
and inspection assistance. Jerry Stoffel, Inspector II, spent June 12
in Elkader assisting with preliminary assessment of flooded structures.

Emergency Communications (911 Center)
- Many of the 911 dispatchers are willing to help other agencies.
Dubuque*s Emergency Communications Manager Mark Murphy is a member of the Iowa 911 Supervisors Group which his currently compiling a list and making it available to agencies that need assistance.

Engineering
- The Engineering Department is able to share with other communities a list of contractors the City of Dubuque frequently works with on community infrastructure projects.

Fire Department
- The Dubuque Fire Department Hazardous Materials team is covering the counties of Jones, Delaware, Clayton and Fayette for Linn County Hazmat through the Iowa Mutual Aid Compact (IMAC).
- Dubuque Firefighter Nathan Miller was called to active duty with the Iowa National Guard and is currently serving in flood relief efforts in Iowa.

Geographic Information System (GIS)
- Dubuque GIS Coordinator/Analyst Nikki Breitsprecker has been contacted by the Johnson County GIS Coordinator who is seeking GIS volunteers to do special projects as part of the flood response and recovery.

Health Services
- The City of Dubuque Health Services Department Environmental Sanitarian Tim Link is a member of the Iowa Environmental Health Response Team (EHRT). Coordinated through the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), the EHRTprovides technical assistance, investigation in food safety, water supply, air quality and solid waste areas. They also provide logistical assistance to other IDPH support teams. Recently, Tim was deployed to Parkersburg for two days. The EHRT will be activated through the IDPH when requested.
- The Health Services Department also has other staff available to assist with public health needs.

Housing & Community Development
- The Housing & Community Development Department is able to share with other communities a list of concrete, tuckpointing, repair and restoration contractors who have been approved for rehabilitation projects in Dubuque in the past.

Planning Services
- Dubuque*s Planning Services Department expects to see requests for City assistance to repair and reconstruct retaining walls in Dubuque which have been damaged this spring. Structural problems with these walls can create a safety concern for property owners on both sides of a wall. In response, on May 19, 2008, the City Council extended its Historic Preservation Revolving Loan Fund to include the repair of historic limestone retaining walls that are critical to the support or protection of structures.
- The City*s Historic Preservation Commission hosted a regional training workshop on Saturday, June 14, for historic preservation commissioners and staff with presenters from the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. One session provided information on lessons learned in New Orleans Historic District for evaluating and saving historic homes and other structures in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Police Department
- Since last Thursday night, June 12, the Dubuque Police Department has been working with the City*s Engineering, Operations and Maintenance, Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa State Patrol, East Dubuque Police Department, and the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office concerning the detour of Interstate 80 through Dubuque. The police department has extra officers working the Hwy 151/61 and Hwy 20 corridor to ensure safe travel by motorists. Extra officers will remain until the detour is lifted and traffic returns to normal.

Water Department
- Dubuque water system is in excellent condition and Dubuque*s Water Department is able to help and support other communities in providing bulk water to fill tanker trucks.
- Last week, department staff were able to fill a National Guard Water Tanker being deployed to Waterloo.
- In addition, Water Plant Operator Mark Stelken was deployed last Wednesday with the Iowa National Guard to Davenport, Iowa. He is part of the Water Purification unit that is stationed there.

Water Pollution Control
- Dubuque*s Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) staff were contacted by the Iowa Departmant of Natural Resources last week and asked to accept septage that would normally be going to other communities in Eastern Iowa, specifically Cedar Rapids. The WPCP staff agreed; however, at this point, they have not received any. Many plants in Eastern Iowa are or were under water and unable to operate.
- WPCP Manager Jonathan Brown was contacted by Cedar Rapids staff this morning and Dubuque*s WPCP will be assisting by accepting/processing portable toilet waste until the Cedar Rapids plant is able to do so.

American Red Cross of the Tri-States
The American Red Cross has assisted four families following last week's severe flooding in Dubuque County, primarily in the cities of Durango, Worthington and Farley. Currently, some client casework, canteening services and distribution of clean-up supplies is ongoing throughout the county. The American Red Cross is also providing services in Clayton and Winneshiek counties, which have been hard-hit by last week's floods.

If you have been impacted by last week's severe flooding, and are seeking assistance, please call the following number: 1-866-GET-INFO, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To support Red Cross disaster relief efforts, please call 563/583-6451.
Please note that the Red Cross can only accept financial donations at its Dubuque office. If you are interested in making an in-kind donation of goods, such as clothing or furniture, please call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985. In addition, Kwik Stop-Dairy Queen at the corner of Asbury and University avenues is accepting financial donations and donations of water and clean-up supplies to distribute to Iowa flood victims from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. today and Tuesday.

Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque has established the Floods of 2008 Assistance Fund to assist with the long-term needs of flood victims and their families. This fund has been established to provide for on-going, long-term recovery, clean up and support of the communities affected by the June 2008 floods in Northeast Iowa.

The Community Foundation will partner with existing non-profit and governmental agencies within the areas affected to provide funding for the services these agencies are delivering to meet the needs of the victims of the floods. If there would happen to be unused dollars left in the fund after all the needs from the floods of 2008 have been met, those dollars would be put into the Community Foundation Crisis Fund to be used in other emergency situations occurring in Northeast Iowa as needed.

The Community Foundation can accept gifts of various types including cash, check, stock gifts, and more. You can send your donations of cash or checks (made out to *Community Foundation-Floods of 2008 Assistance
Fund) to the Community Foundation at P.O. Box 902, Dubuque, Iowa, 52004-0902. You can also drop off your donation at the Community Foundation office located at 700 Locust St, Suite 195 on the mezzanine level of the Dubuque Building in downtown Dubuque. For more information or assistance in making a donation, please contact the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque at 563.588.2700 or email NancyVanM@dbqfoundation.org.

Similar funds have been established in Allamakee, Clayton, and Delaware counties.

Volunteers

Locally, if you wish to get involved, please contact the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD) at 588-2700. The CFGD will coordinate with the City of Dubuque management intern, Corie Burbach at 563.589.4110 and local non-profits to provide assistance and volunteer placement to disaster recovery areas in communities throughout Eastern Iowa.

There is also a state-wide volunteer hotline (1-800-447-1985).

Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce:
Chambers for Flood Relief Fund
The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce is leading efforts to rebuild the Cedar Rapids, IA business community through the establishment of the Chambers for Flood Relief Fund. Members of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and members of Chambers nationwide can be a Chamber Hero by contributing to the Chambers for Flood Relief Fund.

Contributions will assist in clean-up, equipment, human resources and supplies as the Cedar Rapids Chamber works to rebuild their business community. As Chamber members, this is at the very core of our mission.
We do together as businesses, what we cannot do alone. Together, we will help rebuild the Cedar Rapids business community.

This fund will be marketed through an e-blast and on digital billboards. To contribute:
- Log-on to www.dubuquechamber.com/calendar/chamber.cfm
- Mail your contribution to U.S. Bank c/o Chambers for Flood Relief at 270 W 7th Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
- Drop off your contribution to any U.S. Bank office nationwide.

Letters of Verification
The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce will be providing letters of verification to our Chamber member businesses who will be contracting their goods and services to flood victims. The letters of verification will provide reassurance to flood victims that the business is in good standing with the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dubuque Main Street:
As many Main Street Iowa communities have been hit with the floods of 2008, Dubuque Main Street in conjunction with the Dubuque Jaycees is helping coordinate the following efforts. A collection of cleaning items, such as bleach, buckets clean rags, and protective clothing - rubber gloves, plastic jump suits, boots, etc.) will take place at the beverage stations of this Friday*s, June 20, season opening free concert in the Dubuque . . . And All That Jazz series at Seventh and Main Street from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Main Street is also starting a database of volunteers who are willing to give time in the clean-up and preservation efforts, particularly for effected historic buildings in our fellow Main Street communities.
Finally an effort to collect and *ship* furniture to get flood victims *back on their feet* and back in there businesses and homes, as soon as possible is underway, led with an opening contribution from the Fischer Companies and their subsidiary, the Hotel Julien Dubuque.

Contact Dubuque Main Street at 563-588-4400 or by e-mail at dan@dubuquemainstreet.org for more information or to volunteer time or
treasure.

Teresa Shelter
Dubuque*s Teresa Shelter is offering up to 20 beds for women/children who are victims of domestic violence and been displaced from shelters in other Iowa communities.

Dubuque Regional Humane Society
The Dubuque Regional Humane Society is sending staff and volunteers to both Kirkwood Community College and Johnson County Fairgrounds, where pets affected by the floods are being housed. Both locations are in need of volunteers to help with routine operations (feeding, cleaning kennels, etc.). Interested Dubuque volunteers can contact the Dubuque Humane Society at 582-6766 for more information.