Derecho 2020
- pronounced similar to “deh-REY-cho” in English
- in-land hurricane
- up to 140 mph winds
Looking for support with your insurance questions from the derecho?
FROM THE JANSMA FAMILY
Absolutely No Warning
On Monday, August 10, 2020, we were in the kitchen of our home getting some lunch when I told the kids in a very serious voice, “basement”. They knew exactly what that meant. Of course, they were scared and wanted to get their cats and I said, you need to stay in the basement as this is the safety place for us. While a few minutes pass by, I recall looking at my phone and wondering why was there no warning, why was there not storm that was upon us.
While we thought our home was saved. We had no exterior damage. We had no interior damage where something was needing an immediate fix. We did have water that came through 4 out of 6 of the West wall areas through windows and the front door. We cleaned it up and monitored to see how things would go over the next few days. We were without power for 3 1/2 days. Those were the longest, and yet, shortest days of our lives. Our home was dark by 7:30pm each day. We were lucky to get a generator by my in-laws as we couldn’t get one in any surrounding cities.

Animated night time-lapse of Iowa from the w:VIIRS aboard NASA’s Suomi NPP showing progression of widespread power outages as a result of the w:August 2020 Midwest derecho. (Courtesy NASA Worldview.)
mph WINDS
mile-path
Looking for support with your homeowners insurance questions from the derecho?
No one could have been prepared for what happened
Iowa Strong
Cedar Rapids stands together strong. Hundreds of volunteers and workers flock to Iowa to help with the restoration of what our city once was.
Support Where You Need It
“Swift Public Adjusters started to look where no one else did. They found the issues in our home as you couldn’t see it exterior, you couldn’t see it interior… it was in the walls of our home.”