Authorities in Polk County are emphasizing safety as people go about the work of cleaning up flood damaged property. Experienced out-of-town volunteers are moving into the Des Moines area to help with the job.
Much of the cleanup work to this point has been done by neighbors helping neighbors. Polk County Emergency Management Director A.J. Mumm describes the effort as “sometimes dangerous and somewhat technical.” That’s why he says, he’s turning over the more difficult tasks to outside experts.
“We have a number of groups coming into help us that are trained, they’re equipped and they have experience in post-disaster clean-up,” Mumm says.
Mumm says the work currently is a matter of breaking down the job into manageable tasks.
“We’re taking very big and very complex problems and breaking them down into smaller problems and getting people who are professionals, who are really dedicated to solving those problems to work on those problems,” he says.
Mumm says he’s looking for licensed food providers willing to donate meals for the out-of-town workers.
Des Moines housing inspectors have examined more than 300 flood-damaged homes. Twelve have been deemed unsafe to occupy.