LINN COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) - August 10 marks five years since a deadly derecho swept across eastern Iowa. It changed lives forever.

The city of Cedar Rapids and Linn County Emergency Management Service were criticized for their slow response when it came to the National Guard aid and setting up shelters. But if one were to happen today, would we be better prepared?

“It was a very, very significant historic event. It was the largest FEMA payment for this kind of event in in history,” Jeff Pomeranz, Cedar Rapids City Manager, said.

Now, staff say they are better prepared if this happens again.

“We wanted to make sure we addressed our issues and improved and got better,” Pomeranz said.

Linn County Emergency Manager BJ Dvorak saw those struggles first-hand in August 2020.

“After the derech

See Full Page