Sometimes a disaster goes undeclared. Our neighbors struggle to get the help they need to clean up debris, fix their homes, or in the worst case find their new home. The Disaster Recovery Organization is a small group of community leaders that gather each month to discuss and outline ways to gather the resources necessary to both build a community fund, as well as band together our volunteers to do the heavy lifting.
The DRO was established in 2024, working from the older workings of the Disaster Recovery Organization that disbanded in Des Moines County in the early 2000s. They are building back up to help the Des Moines County area when disaster strikes.
As of right now, we are inviting community leaders to come join us at the United Way of Southeast Iowa’s office. Whether you’re a leader of the masses, or just starting up and want to discuss how you can help, we encourage you to join. For more information, however, we do request that you send us an email at office@unitedwayseia.org, and please detail who you are and your preferred contact method. Someone will reach back out and will discuss the organization in further depth with you.
It’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable or confident in joining the DRO. However, if you’d still like to help the DRO has a Recovery Fund you can visit our fund that is held through Community Foundation of Des Moines County’s website. This money is to help those in the ALICE population that are often disqualified from state and local programs for assistance due to income limitations, yet are still unable to make ends meet in an emergency. Businesses that also suffer but fall in the same populous also qualify for help.
Our goal at United Way is to build a foundation of trust and understanding with our communities, so that we can flourish together. United is the Way, to a brighter future.
You can join one of a few groups of individuals that are willing to dedicate their time to the safety of our community here in Southeast Iowa. Right now we have an interest form for specifically Disaster Recovery that can be accessed here on our GivePulse, and are the proud organizers for the local Community Traffic Control of Southeast Iowa.
We’re building a Disaster Recovery Volunteer List for individuals who are interested in being contacted if a disaster strikes in our region. This is not an active volunteer opportunity right now, signing up simply means you’re willing to be contacted in the future to help with recovery efforts, as needs arise.
Disaster response and recovery might include:
• Helping distribute supplies
• Assisting with cleanup efforts
• Supporting local shelters or resource centers
• Providing administrative or logistical help
• Offering specialized skills like construction, transportation, or translation
By signing up, you’re not committing to anything today, you’re just saying, “If the time comes, you can reach out to me.” This list will help us be more prepared, organized, and effective in responding to emergencies. Whether you’re a trained professional or simply want to help however you can, we’d love to include you.
Community Traffic Control is a volunteer-based team dedicated to keeping local events safe and running smoothly. Whether it’s a parade, festival, charity race, or community gathering, our team is trained to assist with traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and crowd management. We work closely with event organizers, law enforcement, and city officials to ensure a smooth experience for attendees and participants alike. Available for bookings across Southeast Iowa, we bring professionalism, reliability, and a friendly face to every event we serve.