Cedar Rapids Approves More Flood Repairs

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Cedar Rapids Approves More Flood Repairs

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

By Becky Ogann

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids is ready to approve more work on more of the city's flooded-out buildings.

It means the owners of all flood-damaged homes and businesses outside the 100-year flood plain can begin limited repair work. But the permits allowed won't apply to actual reconstruction, at least not yet.

Earlier this week, Cedar Rapids lifted a ban on permits for electrical, plumbing and mechanical work for flooded areas on the east side of the Cedar River. That change now applies to anyone with a "green" or "yellow" placard on the west side of the Cedar River- who is outside of the 100 year flood plain. But no one's sure when actual reconstruction can begin

"As soon as we feel we're able to process those permits and people have had electrical, mechanical and plumbing work inspected then it would be timely to issue building permits," said George Dixon, Institute of Building Safety.

Building inspectors hired by the city are doing repeated inspections. Those re-inspections may change some of the damage designations for some homes- meaning their placard color could change.
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Thursday, Jul 24 at 8:59 AM Johanna Brownlow wrote ...

500yr flood plain.INFORMED Tuesday July 22 by Cedar Rapids elec. code enforcement "because I OPENED the walls"(due to flood) We have to remove ALL wiring that was effected AND bring up to 2005 CODE" Paragraph 34.29 REPAIRS OF DAMAGED SYSTEMS states: EXCEPTION: Parts of electrical system,which were not damaged,had been installed in compliance with electrical code, which was "in effect" at the time of the installation, may be salvaged and retained in said electrical system. Any one know about this

Saturday, Jul 5 at 12:28 PM wise money wrote ...

Unless a structure is obviously unsafe for anyone to be in- people should be allowed to enter into their homes and start whatever repairs they want to. The city needs to let these people start rebuilding their lives and stop worrying about the permits allowing them to do so. Waiting to issue building permits sounds as though the city is concerned about losing the income generated from them. These people have and will have enough money lost- don't make it worse nickle and diming them this way.

Friday, Jul 4 at 3:04 PM GET REAL wrote ...

The city didn't even come in my house to inspect yet I got a yellow tag saying it was unsafe. They walked down the street putting them on doors and didn't have a clue how much if any damage there was unless it was visible from the outside. Our city council is a mess and not so honest from what I have seen.

Friday, Jul 4 at 8:38 AM BB wrote ...

No, DV, I think what the article is saying is that those permits are allowed only for green and yellow placarded homes. Nothing that's not safe to enter can be worked on at all. The greens and yellows should all be secured. This makes good sense.

Friday, Jul 4 at 8:14 AM Nobody thinks that way wrote ...

This will fill up with people complaining about not being able to do anything. I still say, let everyone into the destroyed home, let them do what they want, stop the out pouring of federal money to these people. Let them do what they want.

Thursday, Jul 3 at 9:47 PM DV wrote ...

So, it's okay to make NON structural repairs to a building that is tagged "enter at your own risk" but you can't make STRUCTURAL repairs? Why risk electrical and plumbing work in a house that has serious structural damage, and could be dangerous? Also, most of these buildings are not secured, so any lowlife could come in at will and steal the wiring and plumbing materials. Logic, or maybe just good old common sense anyone?

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