IPR News

Gov. Kim Reynolds is defending the state's response to Monday's powerful derecho, even as some 150,000 Iowans remain in the dark and some struggle to access food and critical medical supplies.

Robert and Gavin Tunney were driving west on I-80 near Williamsburg Monday afternoon when the derecho storm hit. They came across an overturned semi-truck and felt prompted to help. During this episode of River to River, we hear from Robert.

All the freshly fallen trees are green wood at this point. That means that the wood will be very smokey when it burns, because it still contains a lot of moisture. Split it, and stack it. Don't burn it.

In the wake of Monday's powerful and deadly storm, hundreds of thousands of Iowans remain without power. In addition to dealing with damaged homes and property, some are also struggling to access life-saving medical supplies or are wondering how they'll get food for the day.

When the governor issues a disaster proclamation, residents who are eligible can apply for assistance grants to pay for things like repairs, food and other necessities. Those grants have deadlines and are open now for people who live in the 25 counties where Gov. Kim Reynolds has declared disaster.

With August halfway over, Iowans have a lot of paperwork on their hands: filling out 2020 census, registering to vote or applying for vote-by-mail. One Iowa woman has taken it upon herself to remind her community of their civic duties.

A powerful windstorm flattened crops, toppled trees and crumpled grain silos. Days later, communities are still assessing the damage.

Almost all school districts in the Iowa counties with the highest coronavirus test positivity rates are planning to start school fully in-person, as leaders consider local virus data and the state’s rule that they conduct mostly in-person learning unless they meet certain criteria.

An Iowan coined the term ‘derecho’ in 1883. To be designated as a derecho, a storm must have a width of at least 60 miles and travel at least 400 miles. Monday’s derecho started in southern South Dakota.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with Hy-Vee to prevent milky water from reaching an Ankeny creek after 800 gallons of spoiled milk were poured down a storm drain.