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Phone Lines Flooded for Cedar Rapids Jumpstart Program

By Sara Stewart, Reporter

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Sep 30, 2008 at 4:50 PM CST

Story Updated: Sep 30, 2008 at 4:50 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Since 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, the phone lines have been taking calls from flood victims looking for money from Iowa's new Jumpstart program.

The call center expects to get about a thousand calls on Tuesday. That's four times the number it would get each day before the flood.

Even before the lines opened up-the lines were full. Clara Bohren is one of the many flood victims planning to call. She and her brother are back in the home they share, but are still trying to repair the damage.

"We lost everything in the basement," said Clara Bohren, flood victim.

Many flood victims got money from FEMA to help initially, but now is the first time that they can apply for state aid.

"It's very important because people have been waiting to find out about resources for the flood to get homes back before the flood. Homes and businesses," said Jane Drapeaux, CEO, HACAP.

Before calling, residents have to register with FEMA.

Organizers say this eliminates the need for flood victims like Clara Bohren to apply several times for different funding sources.

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