Modular Buildings Set Up for Cedar Rapids Community School District Central Offices 

Release Date: August 21, 2008
Release Number: 1763-169

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DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Cedar Rapids Community School District will be ready for the new school year despite serious damage to five district facilities caused by the June flooding.  This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that 35 modular buildings are ready to serve as temporary facilities for the district's central service offices.

The temporary facilities have been placed at a site selected by the school district on a grassy area located at the north end of Kingston Stadium and will be operational by the first week of September. About 130 staff who had been reporting to work temporarily at Jefferson High School will be assigned to the new offices. No jobs were lost because of the flooding.

The Corps procured and constructed the modular buildings for $3.7 million. The project was funded 90 percent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 10 percent by the state of Iowa.

FEMA helps state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations recover from a declared disaster.  In some cases, it provides help for needs such as critical public facilities, debris operations, infrastructure assessment, commodities (including water), urban search and rescue, temporary housing, and temporary roofing.

The Cedar Rapids Community School District's central offices are critical public facilities. FEMA tasked its federal partner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to provide the district a temporary facility.

The temporary buildings, which will also be used for conference rooms, computer equipment and storage, are equipped to meet the heating and cooling needs of the Cedar Rapids climate and comply with industry standards and local building codes.

The Cedar Rapids Community School District will provide furniture and wiring for communication needs. Classes start for all 33 district schools Aug. 26.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Aug-2008 16:41:37