Thread by @kazweida

This #SundayMorning we're asking why no one is paying attention to the devastation in Iowa. On Monday, large parts of Iowa, especially Cedar Rapids, were decimated by a storm called a derecho.

Many Iowans are still without power. 4 are dead.
(THREAD)
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/0…

(2) What is a derecho? It's a wind storm that's the equivalent of an inland hurricane or tornado. It's believed winds were 100 mph in the storm that hit Iowa this past week.

Dealing with this devastation during a pandemic is particularly problematic.

forbes.com/sites/marshall…

(3) There are thousands without power, mostly in the Cedar Rapids area.

While Iowa does periodically get milder versions of these storms, meteorologists estimate this derecho left a swathe of destruction 60-70 miles wide as it moved through the state.

npr.org/2020/08/16/902…

(4) There have been about 14 million acres of farmland destroyed in Iowa and neighboring states, including corn and bean crops.

Because our food supply is volatile right now due to the pandemic, this has the potential to create some food supply issues.

usatoday.com/story/news/nat…

(5) Cedar Rapids, however, is facing the worst of the devastation. As a city known for its trees, it's estimated Cedar Rapids lost at least half of the city's tree canopy in the storm.

It's a loss that will take millions the city doesn't have to replace.

thegazette.com/cedar-rapids-l…

(6) Many families have been displaced because of the storm, including this Cedar Rapids apartment building full of refugees who are now living in makeshift tents and struggling to survive.

The building they once called home is completely open to the sky.

iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2020-…

(7) Ashton Kutcher, who hails from Cedar Rapids, has criticized the lack of federal aid for the devastated Iowan city.

While Trump did tweet about the storm on Tuesday and Pence was in Iowa on Thursday, there has been no federal disaster relief provided.

news.yahoo.com/ashton-kutcher…

(8) So here's where we get to the part where you can help. First off, put the pressure on both Trump and the GOP to get federal aid to Iowa.

Keep shouting about it. Trump has abandoned farmers who were already suffering from his sanctions.

cnbc.com/2019/08/08/i-w…

(9) Secondly, here's how you can donate to Iowa relief efforts.

United Way: …ayofeastcentraliowa.galaxydigital.com/need/index?s=1…
HACAP - Food Assistance:
interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLin…
Greater CR Foundation Disaster Recovery Fund:
gcrcf.org/2020/08/greate…

wfaa.com/article/news/l…

(10) It's a difficult time for everyone. If you can help, please do.

If you're not able to, invest a little time in helping amplify what's happening in Iowa and make sure they get some federal relief to put their lives back together again.

agriculture.com/video/iowas-de…

(END) Thanks for dropping by for our #SundayMorning thread, suggestion courtesy of @cballardspeech , Come back next week and we'll do this again.

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