The following information is from the City of Des Moines Public Information Office:
WHAT: Des Moines residents are invited to a public meeting focused on reviewing
the city’s response to the recent flash flood event on June 30. The
discussion will focus on outcomes, successes, lessons, opportunities and
needs.
Residents will have an opportunity to work alongside other city leaders to
help improve processes. Those interested in participating in one of four
subcommittees — communications, capital improvement
projects/infrastructure, debris management and insurance — can sign up
online at http://bit.ly/DSMfloodcommittees by 7 p.m. Sept. 4 or in person at
the public meeting. Additional subcommittees may be established based
on public input.
WHO: City of Des Moines
WHEN: Tuesday, September 4, 2018
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Central Library (1000 Grand Avenue)
BACKGROUND
On June 30 the Des Moines area received as much as 10 inches of rain in
less than three hours. Within 24 hours of the flash flood event, Des Moines
developed a debris management plan, began a pre-assessment plan and
committed to work through the Fourth of July holiday. Neighboring metro
public works and fire departments worked alongside Des Moines crews to
clean up and haul away more than 6 million pounds of debris and waste.
Regional coordination with citizens, Polk County, Red Cross, and United
Way generated programs to help residents with home repair and recovery.
Watch Cable Channel 7 DMTV “Your Source for the City”
Visit the City Web Site at www.dmgov.org
Programs ranged from a voluntary flood buyout program allowing the city
to purchase certain homes located in the floodplain that suffered
substantial structural damage, to an interest-free loan up to a maximum
amount of $6,000 to replace items such as furnaces, water heaters, sump
pumps and general electrical systems.
Visit http://www.dmgov.org/Pages/FloodInformationCenter.aspx for more
information on flood recovery. For more information about the public
hearing, contact the City of Des Moines Public Information Office at 515-
283-4057.