Housing Task Force Report, August 2008

Few disaster recovery initiatives are more important than those that house the people and assist them to repair or replace their homes. The widespread damage to housing from the tornadoes, storms, and floods in 2008 creates greater challenges in housing than the state has faced from previous disasters. The Housing Task Force gratefully submits its Report to the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission as an opportunity to place data, issues, priorities and recommendations before residents, communities, state officials, and policymakers at all levels for consideration of how best to guide, support, and resource these efforts. Quantifying the impact of the disasters on communities is daunting. The many personal accounts and sets of community statistics paint pictures of Iowans who have emerged from the rubble or muck of their homes with a determination and commitment to rebuild not just like they were previous to the disasters, but better and stronger. Damage statistics are telling.

Supplemental Information to the August 2008 Housing Task Force Report, August 2008

Few disaster recovery initiatives are more important than those that house the people and assist them to repair or replace their homes. The widespread damage to housing from the tornadoes, storms, and floods in 2008 creates greater challenges in housing than the state has faced from previous disasters. The Housing Task Force gratefully submits its Report to the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission as an opportunity to place data, issues, priorities and recommendations before residents, communities, state officials, and policymakers at all levels for consideration of how best to guide, support, and resource these efforts. Quantifying the impact of the disasters on communities is daunting. The many personal accounts and sets of community statistics paint pictures of Iowans who have emerged from the rubble or muck of their homes with a determination and commitment to rebuild not just like they were previous to the disasters, but better and stronger. Damage statistics are telling. Supplemental Information to the August 2008

Fall colors of Iowa: Created by Amanda Carstens,1997.

This brochure includes colorful pictures of fall colors in Iowa. Also has information on why trees change colors and how to identify the species of tree through its leaves. Informs you on where and when to find the best viewing sites of fall foliage in Iowa.

The Minerals of Iowa, 1974.

This book contains maps, colored pictures and detailed information of minerals found in Iowa. It includes the localities of where they can be obtained and the characteristics by which they can be identified. This is part of the Iowa Geological Survey Educational Series 2.

History of Lake MacBride State Park,1969.

This is the history of Lake Macbride State Park written by Golda Leighton Jenkinson and dedicated to the Iowa State Conservation Commission. It includes the history of how the park developed through its history as a state park. Numerous pictures are included.

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, 2010

Pieces of Iowa’s Past, published by the Iowa State Capitol Tour Guides weekly during the legislative session, features historical facts about Iowa, the Capitol, and the early workings of state government. All historical publications are reproduced here with the actual spelling, punctuation, and grammar retained. THIS WEEK: Placing of Pictures of the President and Vice-President

Lexan Gate Arm, HR-536, 1987

Innovative Rail Ltd. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa produced a new rail/highway crossing gate arm that shows promise in two areas: a. Minimizing arm breakage, and b. Added target value to motorists. The new gate was demonstrated to the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, and that railroad has requested its use at two crossings on an "experimental basis" to determine if its installation provides relief in those areas. On April 18, 1986, the Department observed a test of the material under field conditions with the Transportation Company. The gate received four mid-center strikes at 5 MPH by a company truck while in the lowered position, and showed no damage. In a fifth mid-center strike at 15 MPH, the gate was visibly damaged at the connection to its raising mechanism, but continued to function though at a 5-10 degree drop. Several pictures of the gate and its saddle mechanism are shown in Appendix A of this report. Innovative Rail established distributorships in the United States and Canada, and has since gone out of business.