USA: Project Cedar Rapids 10-Day Update

“If you build it they will come…”

Project Cedar Rapids in Iowa had a dynamic first week. We coordinated over 300 volunteers and finished the gutting and mucking out of over 35 homes! Even if we packed up today we could call this one a success, but we won’t… HODR has made the commitment to be on the ground until at least July 22, 2008.
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CHINA: Assessment Update #4

After 4 weeks in China, we are simultaneously:
1. Strengthening our relationship with our targeted project sites
2. Working towards securing permission to launch

The centralized bureaucracy and lack of a Chinese precedent for organizing NGOs, especially in a disaster context, adds to the challenge of this assessment.

Along with making connections with Chinese NGOs, we’ve also branched out our site assessments. John made the 10 hour trip to Bazhong, a cluster of rural villages built with mud brick construction on the very edge of Sichuan province. We’ve also followed reports on the situation in Gansu province from iboughtashelter.com, where they are now on the ground.

Operations director Marc Young will join me in Beijing this week for a round of higher level meetings, while John continues to pursue our connections in Chengdu. We’re planning a two-week push to try to move forward in both of our goals; thanks to our patient volunteers and supporters for your continued enthusiasm!

USA: Project Cedar Rapids in the news

HODR made the local TV news click here to read/watch.

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/20817894.html

USA: Announcing Project Cedar Rapids

The Midwestern United States have been inundated by flooding over the past few weeks and there is a great need for volunteer support. We have identified Palo and Cedar Rapids, Iowa as two places where we can make an impact.

Project Cedar Rapids will begin on June 23rd and run for 30 days.

These communities are extremely proactive in their recovery and the progress made thus far is staggering - most streets are already lined with debris! Based on talks with local officials in Palo and churches in Cedar Rapids we think needs will continue to emerge and persist in the coming weeks, and that our assistance will be very valuable..

We are hoping that as Palo gets back on track, we will be aiding surrounding communities. Our friends from Samaritan’s Purse are running projects in both Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls, IA.

We will be helping those affected with cleaning, gutting, and mucking out homes. As the cleanup work transitions we may help with drywall installation, mudding, and painting needs. As always we will stay open and willing to adapt to the changing needs.

This project will be chaotic and dirty, the way we like it! Come join us in Iowa! Click Here for volunteer information. To donate click here or donate through PayPal at the left of this page.

USA: Midwestern Flooding Assessment Update 1

We are currently on the ground in Cedar Rapids, Iowa assessing the flood damage and overall response thus far. The cleanup effort is well underway here and the debris from homes is mounting along the curb throughout the city.

Our assessment team has met with local churches and other disaster relief organizations operating in the area. We will be meeting with several other organizations and continuing to learn what we can about the situation in Cedar Rapids today.

Before arriving in Iowa we spent 15 hours in Clarksville, Missouri with our friends from the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team. The AC-STL ERT is helping coordinate the emergency sandbag efforts in Clarksville. The operation there was chaotic but effective. HODR volunteers Aaron and Tiffany even jumped in and filled sandbags with local volunteers and National Guard personnel. The Mississippi River beside Clarksville is expected to crest Sunday or Monday.

The Governor of Missouri Matt Blunt visited Clarksville while we were present and thanked us for being there.

Click here to view pictures from Clarksville and Cedar Rapids

Our assessment is still on-going and it is too early to determine whether or not we will have a volunteer project in Cedar Rapids. Please stay tuned to www.hodr.org and our operations micro-blog http://twitter.com/hodrops for updates.

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