It's been 61 days, two months, since the #IowaDerecho on August 10th. This is Cedar Rapids TODAY. 32nd streets on the NE side with debris on the side of the road. Passed a claw truck clearing it today. Crews working through the weekend to finish the FIRST pass in the city (1/)

Between Marion and Cedar Rapids crews have hauled away around TWO MILLION cubic yards of TREE debris. These are just two cities. When you account for the cities impacted along Highway 30 and I-80 I'm sure that number is closer to THREE MILLION. There is still more out there (2/)

That's just one side of the coin, just to explain to you how extensive the damage is. The other side is the humanitarian crisis. There are many people still looking for a new home, people who can't return to their home, who have tarps on their roof. Photo: @DavidAmelottiTV (3/)

Now we're approaching winter in #Iowa and I'm worried about how many people have damage to their roofs and have tarps. Will the tarps be able to handle the snow? Crews are working every single day, yes even on the weekends, to fix these homes but winter will likely catch up.

Power is back. Stoplights work. MOST (not all) people have their internet back. But the work hasn't stopped there. There are businesses, parks unable to reopen due to the extensive damage. There is still insulation in the street. There is still debris EVERYWHERE.

It has become our new normal to see the debris, to see the downed and damaged trees. Crews are working as fast as they can to get things cleaned up but there is SO much. The city of Cedar Rapids has forever been changed and we continue to work on moving forward.

There are farmers who should be harvesting this weekend. Millions of acres of crops were severely damaged or destroyed in the state. Yes, there's insurance. But it's peoples livelihoods and hard work gone in an instant.

The amazing thing has been the people. Everyone coming together. From neighbors to strangers. To Raymond Siddell who started a resource center in Cedar Rapids that has been running since the storm and helping get food, supplies and help to people for the last two months.

To crews that have been working away from their families for TWO MONTHS to help clear the debris and cut down trees. Workers from across the country. We see you and we appreciate you.

Almost every structure (businesses and homes) in the second largest city in Iowa had some sort of damage. We have lost an estimated 100,000 trees. 65 to 75% of our tree canopy. (Last photo via Jared Bell)

I could say a million more things but it took an hour. It took 80 to 140 mph winds. It has changed us. It has changed this state. We have so much work to do, we are #IowaStrong and we will get to the other side. But it will take years to come back from the #IowaDerecho.

QUICK WAYS TO DONATE TO HELP IOWA:

Venmo: @iowaderecho or @Iowa-GivingCrew

Paypal: [email protected] or [email protected]

#Iowa #IowaDerecho #Iowahurricane #iawx https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/how-to-help-those-affected-by-the-iowa-derecho