Tornado recovery updates

Marshalltown:

As of 4pm Sunday, over 3600 customers were still without electricity and natural gas service.

Natural gas:  Alliant Energy says they are slowly returning natural gas service to the northern part of Marshalltown hit by the tornado. 

But they say it must be turned on one residence or business at a time, and the owner of the home or business must be home because an Alliant crew member must light the pilot light in each business or home.  

If noone's present when the technician calls, a phone number will be left on the door to contact to set up an appointment.

The utility is hoping to have all natural gas service restored to homes and businesses by mid-week.

Electricity:  As of Sunday evening, Alliant Energy was saying a large part of the outage area is expected to see power back on by Thursday.  In many areas of the downtown and to the north, however, homes had their electric service lines ripped out from the home or business and those must be reconnected by the homeowner.  

Major employers:  Lennox Industries still hasn't said when their plant will reopen.  A release from the company last said that the factory will be closed until further notice and requests all Lennox employees check in by calling 641-754-4440 or toll-free 800-637-5946. 

Other News:

City of Marshalltown:  

  • The city of Marshalltown's set up public dumpster sites for residents to put debris to be hauled away, but they are being swamped.  On its Facebook page, the city says:  "Please do not haul large truck loads or dump truck loads of debris to the public dumpster sites and dump them there. If your vehicles are fully loaded, take them to the compost or landfill sites please. The public dumpster sites are for people who do not have the vehicle resources necessary to make compost and landfill runs. Please be considerate of those folks who do not have the luxury of vehicle transportation.  As a reminder, the compost is open and accepting trees, branches, yard type waste. The landfill is accepting trash, junk and construction material waste."
  • "City Hall, 911 and Marshalltown PD has lost email and non-emergency phone communication.  911 lines are operational and are being answered by the state police. 
  • If you can park off street, please do so. We need the roads open for utility vehicles, emergency vehicles and public works crews. Please do not park near debris piles. Street crews are trying to clear roads and cannot do so with the parked vehicles in the street

Bondurant:

  • A disaster recovery center has been set up at City Hall for those who need assistance.  The Iowa Insurance Division, and other state and local agencies are set up to offer assistance.
  • Insurance adjusters are asking residents to limit their recovery efforts until adjusters can assess the damage from the tornadoes. 

Pella:  

  • Vermeer operations will be closed until first shift Monday, July 23. Team members on all shifts in Corporate, Plant 1, Plant 2 (front office and production), Plant 3 (front office and production) and the Parts Center should report to work Monday, July 23, beginning with first shift. Team members on all shifts in front office and production of Plants 4, 5, 6 and 7, ACS/Test, Vermeer Underground Technologies and the Global Pavilion should not report to work Monday, July 23 unless contacted by your manager.

So far there are no damage estimates from the three cities. John Benson of Iowa Emergency Management says they're working with officials from Marshalltown, Bondurant and Pella to determine the numbers.

Benson says they are working toward a presidential disaster declaration request. But he says that insured losses aren't covered, so they're triple-checking their numbers to make sure they have all the federal government will need.



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