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Flood Forums on ICN Wednesday

JOHNSTON (KWWL)

Iowans impacted by the record floods of 2008 will received a valuable update Wednesday afternoon and evening. A Rebuild Iowa flood forum will be broadcast to Waterloo, Iowa City Vinton and Elkader on the Iowa Communications Network. The three-hour flood forum will begin at 5 pm and run until 8 pm. The Rebuild Iowa Office is in charge of the flood forum and released the following information about Wednesday's event.

A Flood Forum on Sept. 16 will be broadcast through the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) from Camp Dodge in Johnston to four additional communities to give Iowa residents affected by the 2008 floods an opportunity to find out more about programs they may be eligible for, as well as how to protect themselves and their property during and after disasters.

The Forum will originate from Camp Dodge in Johnston, and will be broadcast to sites in Elkader, Iowa City, Waterloo and Vinton from 5-8 p.m. There will be two sites in Iowa City to meet demand. The event is free and open to the public. There is limited seating at each site, so it is best for attendees to get there early to assure seating.

The Flood Forum, being hosted by the Rebuild Iowa Office, will include presentations focusing on available assistance to flood-affected residents, flood insurance basics and updates on recovery efforts. Speakers include representatives from the Rebuild Iowa Office, Iowa Finance Authority, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Workforce Development and National Flood Insurance Program, among others.  Iowans may attend all or any portion of the information session.  A question and answer period will follow each presentation and questions will be taken from people present not only in Johnston, but at each of the ICN sites.

Disaster assistance programs to be discussed include:

-Case Management Services

-Emergency Public Jobs Program

-IDA Program

-Jumpstart Housing

-Rental Rehabilitation

-Ticket to Hope Program

-Unmet Needs Disaster Grant Program

-Business Rental Assistance Program

-Small Business Disaster Grant Program

The ICN forum is modeled after three previous flood forums held in August and early September in Cedar Rapids, Wapello and Mason City. Residents and officials from other Iowa communities affected by the 2008 disasters requested flood forums as well, and RIO officials decided the best way to reach additional communities was through the ICN network.

The Flood Forum will provide information to disaster-impacted Iowans about assistance programs that are currently available, and direct them to resources in the recovery process, including Long-Term Recovery Committees and local non-profit agencies.

Anyone with questions about the events may call Tina Potthoff, Communications Director with the Rebuild Iowa Office, at (515) 242-5232.

ICN Flood Forum

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16

Time: 5-8 p.m.

Locations:

                        Johnston:

Camp Dodge (Point of broadcast origination)

NOTE:  Attendees must show a photo ID to enter Camp Dodge.

Building S60

7105 N.W. 70^th Ave.

                                Seating capacity: 60

Elkader:

Keystone Area Education Agency I

                        1400 Second St. N.W.

                                Seating capacity: 20

Iowa City:

Location 1:

Iowa City Public Library

123 South Linn St.

                                Seating capacity: 24

                        Location 2:

                                Iowa City High School

                        1900 Morningside Drive

                        Seating capacity: 24

Note directions: This ICN site is in the industrial arts building, a tan, stone building behind the high school. Enter the parking lot from Morningside Drive and turn left, then drive to the access road at the back of the parking lot. Turn right onto the access road and continue until you reach a parking lot. The industrial arts building is behind the two wooden structures to the west of that parking lot. Look for directional signs with the Rebuild Iowa Office logo.

Vinton:

Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School

212 W. 15^th St.

                        Seating Capacity: 20

Waterloo:

East High School

214 High St.

                                Seating Capacity: 29