RIO Press Release
| For Immediate Release | Media Contact : |
| October 8, 2009 | Tina Potthoff |
WORKING TO RECOVER: BUSINESSES CONSIDER POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE FLOODING WHEN REBUILDING
Waverly Business Owner Renovates Floral Shop to Survive ‘The Next Flood’
Note: More than $3.2 billion in disaster-recovery funds have been committed to Iowa since the 2008 floods and tornadoes. “Working to Recover” is an effort by the Rebuild Iowa Office to show how disaster recovery funds have assisted individuals, businesses and communities as the money flows out through recovery programs administered by local, state, federal and non-profit agencies. Volunteer efforts will also be highlighted.
(DES MOINES) – Cyndi Ecker calls the 2008 flood that wiped out 90 percent of her floral shop inventory and ruined much of the contents of her building a critical learning experience.
“We realized we needed to reevaluate how we were working and doing business,” said Ecker, who with her family owns Ecker’s Flowers and Greenhouses, 410 Fifth St., N.W. in Waverly.
A major factor in Ecker’s business recovery plan has been to assume there will be flooding events in the future.
Ecker decided to reopen in the same location in part because the structure was still sound. However, she’s rebuilding with the thought that another flood may occur.
Rethinking how to rebuild smarter has resulted in:
- A flower cooler that can be jacked up to the ceiling should flood water ever enter the building again
- Organizing a plan with a professional to remove the main mechanical mechanisms of the boiler before a flood hits
- Installing carpet tile that can be popped up and moved in a timely fashion
- Moving the electrical panels and phone system out of the basement and moving them to higher levels of the building
- And, painting the basement floors rather than installing some type of floor covering that would be damaged by flood water.
Another essential aspect in Ecker’s plan is to have an “escape plan” to quickly move her inventory and plants. That means only storing inventory and supplies in the basement that can be carried out by employees in 90 minutes, and housing the remainder of the inventory in the upper levels of the building. She has even procured an off-site location where her plants can be moved to allow them to continue to grow during a flood event.
Ecker credits several small business recovery programs for her comeback:
- Ecker’s Flowers and Greenhouses represents one of 7,577 businesses assisted through the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan. So far, more than $105 million has been allocated to Iowa businesses through the program.
- Ecker’s business is also one of 1,020 businesses that received assistance through the Jumpstart Small Business Assistance Program. Nearly $30 million has been awarded to businesses through the Jumpstart Small Business Assistance program.
Ecker would also like to thank the numerous volunteers, family, friends and other people she didn’t even know, who stopped by her business to help with the recovery.
For the media:
Contact for Cyndi Ecker: 319-352-1910 (business phone)
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