Our CR - March 2023

The tree canopy over Cedar Rapids is beginning to grow again. The scars of the Derecho of 2020 are beginning to heal, and City leaders have already provided a legacy solution to answer another one of the big “What Ifs”: What if we lose communication around the City for days, roads are impassable, and residents are unable to travel more than a mile or so to seek information, shelter, and assistance?

As we look to a future with more possibilities of extreme weather, and as we look to a past with a history of flooding and wind events, the importance of preparing for disasters is a high priority for the City of Cedar Rapids.

Neighborhood Resource Centers (NRC) were one of the early successes of the 2020 Derecho recovery process. They have proven to be a positive addition to the Incident Commander’s list of available options to address access issues during an emergency. NRCs are strategically located facilities around the city that provide immediate shelter, basic survival needs, and centers for information exchange. Cedar Rapids has eleven Neighborhood Resource Centers. Some are City owned, and others are provided through positive relationships with churches and area businesses.

Fire Chief Greg Smith is the City’s lead Incident Commander and found NRCs to be exceptional options for his team in 2020. “We were able to use the Neighborhood Resource Centers for critical communications and emergency services,” he said. “Most of them are capable of providing electricity with generators and have room for those in need to seek temporary shelter.”

City staffers have continued to find ways to utilize NRCs since 2020 and share reminders of their locations to residents by hosting events promoting the P.A.C.T. program, which stands for “Prepare. Act. Train. Communicate.” P.A.C.T. helps residents prepare for disasters and household emergencies.

Chief Smith and his team spent several evenings in August 2022 at NRCs passing out preparedness materials. “We featured five of the NRCs with stops at each during our P.A.C.T. Week promotion and found people were interested in what these centers could do for them in the event of an emergency,” he said. All Cedar Rapids residents are encouraged to learn where their nearest Neighborhood Resource Center is located and to use them when they are activated as part of a disaster response. To find out more, visit CityofCR.com/PACT.

Cherry Hill Park | 341 Stoney Point Rd NW

Northwest Recreation Center | 1340 11th St NW

Fillmore Center | 520 11th St NW

Maranatha Bible Church | 521 3rd Ave SW

Cedar Rapids Public Library - Ladd Library | 3750 Williams Blvd SW

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library | 1400 Inspiration Pl SW

Jones Park | 2901 Fruitland Blvd SW

Bender Pool | 940 14th Ave SE

Cedar Rapids Public Library - Downtown | 450 5th Ave SE

St. Paul's Methodist Church | 1340 3rd Ave SE

Lindale Mall | 4444 1st Ave NE