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Teamsters Assist After Storm

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Local 238 Steps Up After Devastating Derecho

Members of Local 238 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa opened their union hall, turning it into a help center for local families who were affected by the recent derecho storm. 

The derecho was a severe weather event that caused widespread damage in the Midwest on August 10-11. The storm had extreme winds higher than 100 miles per hour, an outbreak of tornadoes, torrential rain and large hail. It caused utility disruptions for millions of people, plus residential and commercial property damage that is still being assessed. The greatest damage occurred in eastern Iowa, and in some places it was catastrophic. 

Roy Gillespie, Teamsters Disaster Relief Coordinator, arrived in Iowa to find the devastation looking like a hurricane had hit. 

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing was in the state of Iowa,” Gillespie said. 

Immediately after the storm, Local 238 and its members began collecting essential items such as bottled water, diapers and non-perishable food for the affected community. They are also accepting donations to buy supplies. 

“Local 238 has set up a food distribution program and we’re collecting thousands of pounds of essential goods and distributing them to families in need,” said Jesse Case, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 238. 

For information on how to donate to Local 238’s fund, visit www.teamsterslocal238.com.