Last week, September 21, 2009, Greg Eyerly, Cedar Rapids Flood Recovery Director was the Rotary program ...

While not everyone we spoke to was impressed by his comments and tone, here is Editor Larry H. Christy's RIPPLES FROM THE RAPIDS:

GREG EYERLY, CEDAR RAPIDS FLOOD RECOVERY DIRECTOR

Greg Eyerly was named Cedar Rapids Flood Recovery Director in July 2009. The Flood Recovery Director is a department head level position, reporting to City Manager James Prosser. Eyerly is responsible for the management, direction and development of flood recovery and reinvestment initiatives for the City of Cedar Rapids and provides managerial assistance to the City Manager in relation to the citywide disaster relief program. The job description emphasizes strong project management skills and an ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders from the individual flood victim to federal lawmakers.

Eyerly set the stage for recovery from the Cedar Rapids Flood of 2008. There was damage to 310 facilities, 5,000 homes and 700 businesses. He estimated that 7.800 properties were flood impacted and 18,000 people were displaced. There was billions of dollars of damage and economic loss.

The City Flood Recovery Plan created by the Cedar Rapids City Council is to:

1. Improve flood protection to better protect homes and businesses.


2. Rebuild high quality and affordable workforce neighborhoods.


3. Restore full business vitality.


4. Preserve our arts and cultural assets.


5. Maintain our historic heritage.


6. Assure that we can retain and attract the next generation of workforce.
   

Greg Eyerly reported that it had taken him two months to understand the scope and complexity of the task and that there have been a number of set-backs. including delays in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funding, changing information on the duplication of benefits and changes in the conditions on the ground.

He commented that as a community it has been said that we aren’t taking enough action, our plans are not working, we are moving too slowly on plans and we are unable to react to changing conditions.

He pointed out that as a community we have removed 1,000 tons of flood debris, restored the water supply within the first two weeks, made emergency repairs to the WPC within 73 days, instituted Jumpstarted housing and rental housing, Jumpstarted businesses, demolished imminent treats and acquired homes in the Greenway, formulated a Public Facilities Recovery Plan and performed flood plain mapping.

We have developed a Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, obtained $189 million in FEMA funds ($215 million with county FEMA funds), instituted a Block by Block program, garnered 200 thousand volunteer hours and received tremendous United Way, Faith Based organization, Arts, EPRC-EDA, Downtown District, Neighborhood Associations, Rebuild Iowa and local business and industry support.

Looking forward, Eyerly mentioned that the acquisition of property in the Greenway has begun, final damage assessments and obligation of funds for the 16 major city facilities will be completed by October 31, CDBG funding for business will be received this fall, CDBG funding for infrastructure will be received this fall, demolitions of the majority of damaged homes will be completed by March 2010, FEMA updated flood plain map will be completed by March 2010 and the Corps of Engineers draft feasibility study will be completed by June 2010.

As a community, those working on the flood are completing these tasks and the community needs to concern itself with opportunities for the future. As a community we need to be positive. Negative leadership and political rhetoric has no place in Flood Recovery. It jeopardizes funding for flood recovery and economic development by industry and business and thus our communities future.