Cedar Rapids is marking six years since the 2020 derecho storm hit the city directly with winds that reached 140 miles per hour and lasted for 45 minutes or longer. The storm damaged every square mile of Cedar Rapids, and the city is still replacing the tree canopy it lost.
On August 10, 2020, a cluster of thunderstorms developed in South Dakota and raced across the US on a 770 mile stretch to Ohio, producing an estimated $7.5 billion in damage. Cedar Rapids took the strongest winds, and residents were without power for a week or more while cellular and internet outages made communication extremely difficult.
Cedar Rapids and 2020 Derecho
The storm damaged or destroyed over 100,000 trees in Cedar Rapids and stripped away over 60 percent of the city’s tree canopy. That loss left a visible gap in neighborhoods across the city, and the recovery work now centers on planting tens of thousands of new trees to replace what was lost.
Three Iowans died in the storm. Chris Keller, a utility worker for the city of Brooklyn, was electrocuted by downed power lines. Samantha Wierson, a volunteer firefighter and EMS worker, died when a tree fell on her home in Malcom.
Ely Road and Wright Brothers Boulevard
Thomas Rowland was 63 when he was killed. He was riding his bike on a trail near Ely Road and Wright Brothers Boulevard when a falling tree hit him. His death, like the others, remains part of the direct toll from the 2020 Derecho.
Six years later, the city’s recovery is still tied to the scale of the loss: widespread damage, a week or more without power, and a tree canopy that will take years to rebuild. Cedar Rapids continues planting tens of thousands of new trees, but the city’s long repair work is not finished yet.
