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Finkenauer visits Marshalltown in wake of derecho

T-R photos by Thomas Nelson — Rep. Abby Finkenauer walks with Joel Greer through Marshalltown on Friday. She came to tour the town to observe the aftermath of the Monday derecho.

Rep. Abby Finkenauer is pushing for an emergency proclamation for Iowa.

The derecho wind storm ravaged Marshalltown, Marshall County and Iowa on Monday. The storm knocked down crops, broke trees, caused property damage and shut down power for hundreds of thousands.

“We need all the help we can get and we need it now,” Finkenauer said.

She toured Marshalltown Friday afternoon, observing storm damage near Miller Middle School and the Iowa Veterans Home.

“It’s something we’ve never seen here in the Midwest,” Finkenauer said.

T-R photos by Thomas Nelson Finkenauer talks with school officials while visiting Miller Middle School on Friday.

There is a lot of support needed at the federal level to help local governments and Iowans repair the damage in a timely manner.

“One of my biggest frustrations is so much of the federal money is tied up until there is an emergency declaration or Presidential disaster declaration,” she said.

Finkenauer and other Iowa politicians have urged Gov. Kim Reynolds to ask for those declarations.

“We are going to keep pushing as much as we can to get these resources in because we need them,” Finkenauer said. “It’s pretty clear that the toll is large and every day that this goes on, the human toll goes up.”

People had 30 minutes to one hour notifying them of the impending storm, and were not able to stock-up on essentials.

“What we’re seeing is one – folks are hungry and need food; two – they need ice; and three – they need gas to keep generators going,” she said.

The storm damaged ten of Marshalltown’s school buildings.

“A lot of clean-up is happening which is extraordinary,” Finkenauer said. “There’s still a lot of work to do.”

Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities from the derecho in Marshalltown, but two people died from the COVID-19 pandemic which complicates the clean up process.

“There’s so much going on that we want to make sure that everything that’s needed whether it’s from the pandemic side or (the derecho),” Finkenauer said.

She wants to make sure Iowans are getting information they need.

Finkenauer advised people to keep their generators outside so they do not get carbon monoxide poisoning and to use flashlights instead of candles.

This weekend Finkenauer was married in the backyard of her home in Cedar Rapids, and has since spent time usually reserved for a honeymoon in Marshalltown and other spots in her district.

“It’s not getting as much national attention as it should,” Finkenauer said. “A hurricane essentially went through the Midwest.”

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Contact Thomas Nelson at 641-753-6611 or tnelson@timesrepublican.com

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