Cedar Rapids Marks Five Years Since Devastating Derecho

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KWWL) — The City of Cedar Rapids hosted a free public event Friday to mark the five year anniversary of the 2020 derecho. The powerful storm left lasting damage to houses, trees, and took the life of one Eastern Iowa resident.

On August 10, 2020, a complex line of storms swept across the Midwest, producing wind speeds of up to 140 miles per hour, which is the equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. The derecho damaged homes and trees in every Cedar Rapids neighborhood and caused an estimated $7.5 billion in damage across the region. The city also lost two-thirds of its tree canopy.

Friday’s gathering at Jones Park reflected on the storm’s impact and recognized ongoing recovery and reforestation efforts made possible through volunteers, community partnerships, and city p