Clay County Long Term Recovery

09/02/2026

🟡 WATCH vs. WARNING: Do you know the difference? 🔴

In severe weather, every second counts. Knowing how to react to NWS alerts can save lives:

🟡 WATCH = BE PREPARED. Weather conditions are favorable for a hazard to develop. Check your supplies, review your emergency plan, and monitor local forecasts.

🔴 WARNING = TAKE ACTION. The hazard is imminent or already occurring in your area. Move immediately to your safe place (such as a basement, interior room, or storm shelter).

📲 Action Step: Enable wireless emergency alerts on your phone, download a reliable local weather app, and consider keeping a NOAA Weather Radio at home with fresh backup batteries!

❓ Action Question: What is your primary way of getting severe weather alerts when you're asleep - phone alerts, a weather app, or a NOAA weather radio? Let us know below!

weather.gov/wrnWays to get warnings:Wireless Emergency Alerts (...

09/01/2026

🚨 September is officially National Preparedness Month! 🚨

When disaster strikes, having a plan in place makes all the difference for your household and our entire community. Preparing doesn't have to be overwhelming or expensive taking small steps week by week builds lasting resilience.

Over the next four weeks, we’ll be sharing simple, actionable checklists covering emergency communication, supply kits, low-cost home mitigation, and community safety.

💬 Let us know in the comments: What is one step you’ve already taken to prepare your home for severe weather?

08/25/2026

What a privilege it has been to work alongside our community on this project!

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) has been here on the ground since the beginning of June, tackling home repairs and building a brand-new home for a local family. A massive undertaking like this takes incredible teamwork, planning, and dedicated community partners to make it a reality.

A huge thank you to everyone who stepped up:
Mennonite Disaster Service
Midwest Companies
Muddy Creek
BiddleElectric
Christians Sheet Metal
Denison Drywall Contracting & Supply
Consumers Lumber
Adam Cox – Cox Concrete Construction, LLC
The Faster Horses
Kruse Natural Stone & Tile
City of Spencer, Iowa
Spencer Chamber of Commerce

There are so many others who gave of their time, finances and resources. Thank you!

Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing photos and videos from the house dedication with MDS soon! 🏡✨

07/08/2026

07/03/2026

06/22/2026

We are two years out from the disaster that affected our community in so many ways. We are still grieving and still rebuilding but we are growing stronger. Our community is

The Clay County Long Term Recovery group is still working hard to help homeowners to the finish line. One project that we have been working on is rebuilding a home this summer for one of our families.

Thank you to the following organizations for working so hard and partnering with us to get this family back into their home: Biddle Electric, Christians Sheet Metal, Cox Concrete, Denison Drywall, Echo Electric, Faster Horses, Mennonite Disaster Services, and Muddy Creek Contracting.

05/27/2026

Clay County has been approved for the State Individual Assistance Program as a result of the recent storms. If you or someone you know was impacted by the last round of storms, please use the attached QR code to apply. You may also contact Clay County Long Term Recovery if you need assistance filling out the application. They can be reached at 712-580-5670. Please share this post.

05/14/2026

As many are probably aware, there was a house fire in our community last night. We have been in communication with multiple organizations helping this family and want to get some information out as quickly as possible. We want to make sure our love actually lands in the most helpful way possible.

💛 HOW TO HELP:

A bank account has been set up at Northwest Bank in the family's name "Carney Community Support Fund" for direct cash donations.

Gift cards are also being gratefully accepted — especially:
• Walmart
• Amazon
• Gas station cards
• Visa/Mastercard gift cards (usable anywhere, state to state)

---

A note on disaster response — because our hearts are in the right place and so should our help:

Whether it's a house fire or a federally declared disaster, the most important thing we can do for survivors is give them a choice. When disaster strikes, control, privacy, and dignity are stripped away along with belongings. Survivors still have preferences, allergies, and personal needs that none of us on the outside know about. Sometimes physical donations, however loving, can quickly become a second wave of overwhelm.

Cash and gift cards put the power back in their hands. That's not a lesser gift — it's often the greatest one.

Share this post, give a gift card, or stop by Northwest Bank. Every dollar is a decision given back to a family who needs it.

❤️ Thank you for being the kind of community that shows up. We are and it shows in moments like this when we see a community rally around those that need it most.

Send a message to learn more

05/06/2026