It was one year ago today (Tuesday) that many Iowans learned for the first time what a derecho is…and that was only because the massive storm with hurricane-like winds had devastated a large swath of the state. More than $11.5 billion in damage was reported across the Midwest and the unprecedented storm was labeled the costliest thunderstorm disaster in American history by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). U.S. Senator, Chuck Grassley, says it is hard to believe it has been a year since the devastating derecho hit families, businesses, schools and farms across Iowa and he worked over the past year to spearhead a bill that offers disaster aid for those impacted. On this anniversary, Grassley says he won’t stop until those who are still working to recover have crossed the finish line. MidAmerican Energy reported that immediately after the derecho, there were more than 290,000 customers without power and a total of 458,000, nearly 60 percent of their customer base, experienced service interruptions. They deployed over 2,500 crew members from 24 states who replaced approximately 1,000 distribution poles, 61 transmission structures, 20 miles of primary distribution and transmission lines, more than 2,700 overhead electrical service lines and over 60 gas service lines. During the first 24 hours in Cedar Rapids, MidAmerican responded to 325 gas leak calls—more than six typical days of work—as part of the overall 1,500 gas leak calls from impacted areas in Iowa and Illinois. Gov. Kim Reynolds identified 27 Iowa counties in a derecho disaster proclamation. Locally, these include Audubon, Greene and Guthrie Counties.
