CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is pushing back against criticism that she has been slow to respond to a wind storm that devastated the state. She's promising help for tens of thousands of residents entering their fifth day without electricity. Reynolds says that 100 members of the Iowa National Guard arrived in hard-hit Cedar Rapids on Friday to help clear tree debris that's blocking downed power lines. She says she has commitments from the state’s largest utilities for customers to have power restored by Tuesday. Reynolds says she will submit the state’s request for a federal disaster declaration on Monday after completing damage assessments.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerry Frajman sits in front of the Cedar Rapids Public Library after charging his cell phone, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The storm that struck Monday morning left more than 181,000 Iowans without power as of Friday morning. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Posted at 1:30 PM, Aug 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-14 16:19:31-04
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
