1000 Friends of Iowa is working to gather links to resources for those impacted by the floods, in particular, those whose older or historic buildings and town centers have suffered damage. We will continue to update the content as additional information and links become available.

From the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

The National Trust for Historic Preservation set up a website to help the flood-impacted Main Street Iowa towns of Charles City, Waverly, Elkader, Waterloo and Burlington.  All donations will be equally distributed among the five MSI communities.  These five communities had the most flooding downtown which is why they were selected.

The page started receiving donations almost as soon as it was live. The generous outpouring of support across the country for Iowa's Main Street communities has been heartening; almost immediately after the flood, other Main Street communities were getting in touch to see how they could help, and several asked to "adopt" an Iowa community to provide support for recovery efforts. Go to http://my.preservationnation.org/iowa to make a donation.

From the Iowa Farm Disaster Relief Coalition:

The Iowa Farm Disaster Relief Coalition, a collaboration of the state's sustainable agriculture non-profit organizations, faith-based groups and advocates, is collecting donations and making emergency funds available for Iowa's family, sustainable and market farmers who are suffering weather disasters this season. Go to the coalition's website for more information about applying for emergency funds or to make a donation.

From the State Historical Society of Iowa:

Technical and Financial Resources: Disaster Response for Flood of 2008. Includes links to technical information, web sites, information about available grants.

http://www.iowahistory.org/grants/flood_2008/index.html

From the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance:

The Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance, in coordination with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is distributing free copies of a one-page tip sheet for owners of older and historic buildings impacted by flooding.

http://www.iowapreservation.org/

From the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs: 

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has set up an email account and scheduled a series of dial-in conference calls for Iowans to report recent flood and tornado damage. 

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
600 E. Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2008

Contact: Jeff Morgan, 515-281-3858

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is urging Iowans to report recent flood, storm and tornado damage of cultural, historical and art properties and assets to a special email account and through a series of upcoming conference calls.

DCA is requesting reports about cultural, historical and art properties and assets that include – but are not limited to – art galleries, art museums, performance art centers, artist’s studios, historic buildings, cemeteries, archaeological sites, artifacts, museum collections and archives.

“We are receiving scattered reports already, but we are urging Iowans to contact us through the special email account and on the conference calls so we can develop a comprehensive report of the damage our cultural, historical and art properties and assets have suffered,” said Cyndi Pederson, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. “This information will be critical in determining the financial assistance Iowans will need to recover and rebuild.”

Iowans can report damage to a special email account at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (please note the “.” between “Resources” and “Flooding”). In the subject line, please identify the community and the cultural resource impacted by the flooding. Replies will not be issued from this email account.

Iowans can also report damage during a series of conference calls at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19; 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 24; 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 26; 1:30 p.m. Iowans should call toll-free at 866-685-1580; the conference code is 5152816320#.

Iowans can also visit www.culturalaffairs.org for technical assistance, disaster response and financial resource information. The information is directed primarily to cultural, historical and art organizations and historic property owners, but can also be applied to most dwellings and collections. Examples of information include:

• treating flood-damaged homes and properties

• working with contractors and architects

• salvaging water-damaged collections

• links to nearly two dozen organizations that offer a wide variety of technical assistance
  

The Web site also offers directions for applying for emergency Historic Resource Development Program grants.

“Water and loss of humidity and temperature control can cause enormous damage to historical documents, artifacts, historic buildings, archaeological sites, cemeteries, government records and art collections,” Pederson said. “A single flood can erase substantial portions of a community’s unique recorded history, and water distorts paper and causes ink and other media to run or even disappear. Wet records, artifacts and art pieces can grow mold within 48 hours, so even a small water disaster requires a prompt response.”


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Websites Created to Raise Funds for Flood Relief