2020 Derecho | LAP-AID Website

Reach & Service Coverage

292 households served
9 communities served: Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Springville, Covington, Lisbon, Mt. Vernon, Alburnett, Shellsburg

Financial Investment & Funding

3.35 million disbursed (plus $70,000 in progress)
$1.44 million in private funding
$2 million from public sources
Up to $15,000 in forgivable loans per household

Service Outcomes

34 homes repaired by Matthew 25
39 homes supported by ECICOG
24 homes served by NFC Cedar Rapids
Construction management, loan servicing, and homeowner navigation provided collaboratively by local nonprofits and agencies

PATCH: Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners

In the aftermath of the derecho, LAP-AID members recognized the desperate need for homeowners to be supported in addressing critical home repairs. These concerns prompted a collaborative disaster recovery initiative called PATCH—Providing Assistance to Community Homeowners. Designed to support low- to moderate-income homeowners impacted by the storm, PATCH addressed critical repair needs that fell through the cracks of traditional disaster relief systems.

By Fall 2020, PATCH was formally launched. The Housing Fund for Linn County seeded the program with an initial $272,000 investment. As needs grew, additional funding from ECICOG, United Way of East Central Iowa, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, the City of Cedar Rapids, and Linn County helped PATCH raise over $3.4 million to rebuild homes and restore stability.

PATCH united individuals and organizations who trusted one another and combined their unique strengths to create a community-driven recovery model. PATCH delivered critical recovery across Linn County through an extensive reach of service coverage, raising financial investments to aid funding, and leveraging direct services to homeowners affected by the disaster.

Linn County stands as a testament of resilience and community spirit.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DERECHO

The 2020 Linn County Derecho:
A Community's Resilience

On August 10, 2020, a derecho with wind speeds reaching 140 mph struck Linn County, Iowa.

The storm devastated all 75 square miles of Cedar Rapids, the largest city in Linn County, leaving no neighborhood untouched and impacting every resident. In the aftermath, people emerged to find fallen trees, destroyed homes, and streets that no longer resembled their own. Coming amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the storm added another layer of hardship to an already difficult year.

Members of LAP-AID met daily to coordinate a unified response to local needs. By gathering information from multiple nonprofits, they served as a central hub for connecting residents to vital resources. LAP-AID teams played a key role in supporting the City of Cedar Rapids’ Neighborhood Resource Centers by providing essential services, supplies, and volunteers. Through collaboration, they minimized duplication, streamlined efforts, and ensured that assistance reached residents as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Despite this disaster, the people of Linn County came together.

Neighbors helped neighbors, communities rallied, and recovery began—