Flood recovery efforts underway at Parkside East Apartments, almost 400 displaced
By Abigail Kurten
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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Nearly 400 residents of Parkside East apartments in Des Moines are displaced after severe flooding submerged parts of the complex, leaving behind extensive damage and a long road to recovery.
J.B. Conlin, CEO of Conlin Properties, which owns the apartments, described the flooding as extraordinary.
“I think this rain event was a once in the lifetime,” Conlin said.
Conlin said he began evacuating residents at 3 a.m. Friday, and efforts have now shifted to cleaning up the damage.
Residents on the first floor suffered the most significant losses.
“If you were a resident that lived on the first floor, you probably lost everything. And that’s the real tragedy here,” Conlin said.
Currently, nearly 80 displaced residents are staying at Hoyt Middle School, where the American Red Cross is providing shelter, food, and safety.
“It was kind of jarring just pulling up to the scene at the apartment complex, to see the flood, to see the rescue boats go out and evacuate people. And to know that it happened in the holiday weekend, it was kind of gutting,” said Dacian Wilson of the American Red Cross.
Crews are working to tear out drywall, repair flooring, and remove debris from the apartments. It is expected to take at least a month before residents on the second and third floors can return, while first-floor residents face an even longer wait.
Conlin said his team are working to rehome as many residents as possible in other properties.
“Trying to get them some resources and financial resources is one of our biggest goals,” he said. “We’re trying to throw as much as we can to get these buildings back in shape.”
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