Are you a Linn County resident who heard about this project and need assistance? If you  want to apply for a voucher, call the Community Recovery Center at (319) 261-0987.  Leave your name and number, and someone will get back to you.

In June of 2008, the community of Cedar Rapids was ravaged by flooding, the likes of which our state has not seen in generations. Here are just a few facts on the Flood of 2008:

Flood Appliance Replacement Project Slide Show

(requires Microsoft PowerPoint)

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abovelink & choose "save" when prompted.

 version click here 

The devastation exceeded the five hundred year flood plain projections, inundating over 1,336 square blocks; more than nine square miles. More than 26,000 people were displaced, with 4,000 homes damaged or destroyed. The heart of our downtown is in ruins. More than 500 businesses and 9,000 employees were dislocated. Many are still not back in business.

In all, more than $5 billion in damage was done. The flood has changed our community forever. But in the months since, we have seen extraordinary strength of spirit and generosity; both from our own friends and neighbors and also from new friends, who travelled from around the world to pitch in. But the reality is, in order to fully recover, we will need help beyond what our own citizens, companies and the government can provide. Our community, which has been generous to many Rotary-supported and other causes over the years, now is relying on others to help us.

As a part of the recovery plan, the seven Rotary clubs of the Cedar Rapids metro area have chosen to assist with one particular pressing need experienced by nearly every family affected by the flood. According to the latest needs assessment, families lost some 3,179 major appliances in the disaster, at an estimated replacement cost of $1,272,000.

Even after a home is repaired, it really isn’t “livable” without a stove or refrigerator. And homes that may have only seen minor structural damage had flooded basements, destroying the washers and dryers of families least able to replace them.

The seven metro Rotary clubs of Cedar Rapids have set a goal to help, at a minimum, 250 of the hardest-hit families with a voucher that can be redeemed for the major appliance they need most. As of this writing, we have already raised funds to assist 100 families. So, we’re making good progress, but we are going to need help from our fellow Rotarians to meet this ambitious goal.

Rotarians from around the country have already sent funds. And locally, each of the 600 Cedar Rapids-area Rotarians have pledged to make a personal contribution to the program. But the needs are varied and great after the disaster. Most of us are contributing to multiple campaigns. Plus, many of our members have been affected by the flood themselves. We need to look outside our community for help.

We invite you to join us in the Cedar Rapids Metro Rotary Flood Appliance Project, and help our community recover.  

All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Click here for online donations (designate "Rotary 2008 Flood Relief Fund) or checks may be sent to:

Rotary 2008 Flood Relief Fund

Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

200 First St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Thank you in advance for your help.  

Clubs Contributing so far to Flood Recovery	Rotary District	City & State
Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids West*	5970	Cedar Rapids, IA
Cedar Rapids Downtown *	5970	Cedar Rapids, IA
Marion - East Cedar Rapids*	5970	Marion, IA
Cedar Rapids Sunrise *	5970	Cedar Rapids, IA
Hiawatha - Metro North*	5970	Hiawatha, IA
Cedar Rapids - Daybreak*	5970	Cedar Rapids, IA
Ely - Gateway*	5970	Ely, IA
Anthem Rotary Foundation	5490	Anthem, AZ
Avoca Rotary Club	5650	Avoca, IA
Chanhassen Rotary Foundation	5950	Chanhassen, MN
Bancroft Area Rotary Foundation	5970	Bancroft, IA
Covington Rotary Club	6910	Covington, GA
Estherville Rotary Club	5970	Esterville, IA
KCI Airport Rotary Club	6040	Kansas City, MO
Monticello Rotary Club	5970	Monticello, IA
Northlake-Mandeville Rotary Club	6840	Mandeville, LA
Palo Alto University Rotary Club	5170	Palo Alto, CA
Porterville Breakfast Club	5230	Porterville, CA
Rotary Club Branch 2193
Rotary Club of Bay St. Louis		Bay St. Louis, MO
Rotary Club of Concord, MA		Concord, MA
Rotary Club of Elmbrook		Elmwood, WI
Rotary Club of Garner	5970	Garner, IA
Rotary Club of Gulfport	6840	Gulfport, MS
Rotary Club of Quad Cities of Sharp County AR		Sharp County, AR
Rotary Club of Ventura		Ventura, CA
Rotary Club of Walnut		Walnut, IA
Rotary Club of Woodland-Luna Vista	5160	Woodland, CA
Rotary of Grand Forks	5580	Grand Forks, ND
Wiggins Rotary Club		Wiggins, CO
Cheokee Rotary Club	5610	Cherokee, IA
Kingston Sunrise Rotary	7210	Kingston, NY
Milton-Freewater Rotary	5100	Milton-Freewater, OR
Pequannock Valley Rotary	7470	Pequannock, NH
Putnam Rotary Club	7890	Putnam, CT
Rotary Club of Middle River	7620	Baltimore, MD
Wakefield Rotary Club	7950	Wakefield, RI
West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation	5030	Seattle, WA
Rotary Club of Greenbelt	7620	Greenbelt, MD
Janesville Rotary Club	6250	Janesville, WI
Beloit Rotary Club	6250	Beloit, WI
Janesville Morning Rotary	6250	Janesville, WI

* Metro Rotary Clubs of Cedar Rapids, IA