Davenport details damages from Friday storm

Cleanup continues across the Quad Cities from the severe weekend weather that ripped through the region.

On Monday, July 14, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation for Scott County, directing more financial resources for response and recovery. For information on applying for individual disaster assistance programs available to Scott County residents impacted, visit the state’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management website here.

In a news release, the City of Davenport also announced Monday it has completed its damage assessment from the weather event Friday, July 11. 

The city said that the National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado cut through Davenport with peak winds estimated at 120 mph. The tornado’s seven-mile path began

southeast of Blue Grass around 5 p.m., continuing northeast through Davenport’s Emeis Park and ending near Kimberly Road and Fairmount Street at about 5:13 p.m.

Damage assessments

Davenport city staff recorded damage at 18 properties during their assessments conducted Saturday, July 12. Damage ranged from downed trees to damaged roofs and visible flooding problems. Staff surveyed known low-lying areas and other locations based on a heat map of requests. This total, the release said, does not include properties where homeowners did not self-report issues such as flooded basements. 

The severe weather caused the most significant damage to apartment buildings on 35th Street, where three buildings were tagged as unsafe. A total of 25-30 residents were impacted, city staff reported. 

Emeis Park lost several large trees, but there was no damage to the playgrounds or ballfields. Emeis Park Road is closed temporarily during the cleanup for the next few days.

Meanwhile, city crews also are working at Junge Park, cleaning a layer of mud off the baseball fields and clearing debris. The fields will need to be regraded. Vander Veer Park lost a large tree on the west side, but the overall damage is minimal.

Tree debris pickups

The city is asking for help from residents to make tree debris pickups more manageable and speed up collection. Large limbs should be cut shorter than five feet in length, bundled, and left in the resident’s normal collection spot. Smaller limbs can be bagged in a Kraft-ply bag and placed for collection.

The city has waived sticker fees through Friday, Aug. 1. Debris will be picked up on regular collection days. Residents also can drop off tree debris at no cost at the Davenport Compost Facility located at 2707 Railroad Ave.

Damaged property pickups

City solid waste customers with flood-damaged property, including furniture, appliances, and rugs, can place items for pickup in their normal waste collection spot. Smaller, loose items should be placed in bags, each weighing no more than 50 pounds. 

Davenport residents are asked to call the city’s public works department at (563) 326-7923 to report damaged property and request a pickup. 

Those living in multi-plex housing with more than three units as well as commercial property owners or tenants must contact their insurance company, landlord, or contracted solid waste service.

Additional updates and recovery resources are available on the City of Davenport website page created for this storm event.