As Davenport property owners begin the clean up and repairs following the recent storm event, the City reminds residents to obtain permits before repairing or rebuilding damaged structures. Property owners located in a special flood hazard area should also be aware, all properties located in a special flood hazard zone must be inspected before cleanup, repairs, and permits can be issued. 

• Document your damage
  • Take pictures of everything
  • Make a list of all items with costs if available; make note of brands, model numbers, any additional information that could be helpful
  • Keep all receipts for any associated costs
  • Call your insurance adjuster before you cleanup or make repairs
• Building Permits may be required for repairs
• Floodplain Development Permits will be required for properties located in the floodplain
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning up

Remember that flood insurance only covers direct physical damage from flooding, check with your insurance agent on individual coverage.

The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter for all displaced Scott County residents at the Davenport Community School District (JB Young Opportunity Center), located at 1702 N Main St. in Davenport. Residents can also contact the Red Cross directly for emergency assistance and connections to resources at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Curbside collection is limited to City solid waste customers. Residential housing greater than 3 units and commercial properties will need to contact their insurance company, landlord, or contracted solid waste service.

To assist residents in cleaning up after Friday's storm, the City of Davenport is temporarily waiving the sticker and fee requirements for yard waste collection through August 1. Yard waste must be placed at the resident’s normal collection point in Kraft-ply bags or in a yard waste cart. Residents can also drop off yard waste and tree debris free of charge at the Davenport Compost Facility located at 2707 Railroad St through August 1.

Residents who have tree damage can bundle tree limbs and place them at their usual collection point for pickup. Limbs should be no longer than 5 feet, and each bundle should weigh no more than 50 pounds. Collection will be on a resident’s regular collection day. Please be patient as the collection may take a couple of weeks.

Contractors assisting residents with the cleanup may also drop off tree debris for free at the Davenport Compost Facility through August 1, 2025.

We remind folks to inspect their trees for “hangers” (hanging limbs) and leaning. Hangers can fall at any time, causing injury or damage. If the tree is leaning, it may have sustained root damage. If you have a hanger over a sidewalk or roadway, please call Public Works at 563.326.7923 or report it at www.davenportiowa.com/pwrs. For private trees, consider contracting a certified arborist to inspect your trees. 

If you experienced a flooded basement or sewer backup, be sure to document damages and contact your insurance adjuster before you clean up. Be sure to disinfect while cleaning up and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and masks as needed. 

Curbside disposal of tree material, appliances, and furniture is limited to City solid waste customers only.  Residential housing greater than 3 units and commercial properties will need to contact their insurance company, landlord, or contracted solid waste service.

Appliances and Furniture. For appliance and furniture disposal, place damaged material at your regular collection point. Call Public Works during business hours, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, let us know your address, and what has been placed for collection. Materials clearly not affected by flooding or backup will not be collected until a resident's regular bulky waste collection day.

Household Hazardous Materials. No household hazardous materials or building materials will be collected. Household hazardous materials will need to be taken to the Waste Commission of Scott County's Household Hazardous Materials Facility.

Building Materials. Building materials will need to be taken to the landfill. 

Salvaging Appliances? If you plan to keep the affected appliances, be sure to have them inspected by an electrician before reenergizing. Repairs and cleaning may be necessary for your safety and to prevent fire or other damage. This includes water heaters, HVAC units, washers, dryers, and electrical outlets.

Wet rugs, clothing, and Furniture. Wet rugs, clothing, and furniture can be placed for collection after they have dried out in the sun. This is for the safety of our staff. Loose materials should be bagged after they have dried out and placed in the garbage cart. Bags should weigh no more than 50 lbs. 

Cardboard Boxes. 

• Boxes that are wet from sewer backup need to be bagged and placed in the garbage cart.

• Boxes that are wet from ground/surface water can be dried, flattened and placed in the recycling cart.

• Dry empty boxes are to be broken down and placed in the recycling cart for collection. Large boxes can be cut down or brought to one of the Waste Commission of Scott County’s Drop-Off Recycling locations at:
  • Centennial Park: 202 S Marquette St, Davenport. Open 24/7
  • West Lake Park: Gate 2, County Rd Y48. Open Park Hours
  • Scott County Park: 1/2 Mile East of Main Park Entrance. Open Park Hours
  • Scott Area Recycling Center: 5640 Carey Ave, Davenport. Open 24/7
  • Scott Area Landfill: 11555 110th Ave, Davenport. Open 7am-3:30pm weekdays and 8am-11:30am Saturdays.

The City will not collect boxes full of debris placed at the collection point. 

Sewer Backup. If your basement was flooded due to a sewer backup, you may be eligible for the City's No-Fault Sewer Backup program. Sewer backup is generally indicated by backup at the floor drain, the water smells, and contains debris and other material such as toilet paper. Be aware that documentation of damages and filing with personal insurance first is a requirement of the program. 

While we have not had reports of scammers in our area at this time, we would like to remind our community that scammers often pose as contractors offering to repair storm damage, but they may be unqualified, overcharge, or even disappear with payment before completing the work. These scams can involve unsolicited door-to-door offers, pressure tactics, and requests for upfront payment. Do not be pressured into signing a contract. Do research and verify the validity of contractors or individuals offering assistance before committing or signing any contracts. Use this guide to help you avoid being scammed -  Hiring a Contractor.

If Friday’s storm event caused structural, roof, or window damage or your HVAC system, water heater, electrical (including outlets), or other appliances were affected by water, you will need to get a permit for repairs. This ensures the safety of both you and your property.

Structural and other building envelope damage can weaken the building and create unsafe living conditions.

To prevent fire hazards, it is also very important that systems and appliances that became wet are dried out, cleaned, and inspected before reenergizing. Be aware that a licensed and bonded mechanical, plumbing, or electrical contractor is required for repairs to HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems.  

Questions about what you need to do?  We are here to help.

For building permits and general questions, call our Building Division at 563.326.7745 during business hours, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If your property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, you may also need a Floodplain Development Permit. Call 563.326.7745 for more information.

The Salvation Army, located at 100 Kirkwood Boulevard, has free flood clean up kits available for pick up beginning Monday, July 14 during normal business hours.

The American Red Cross has free flood clean up kits available for pick up from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 15 at the Davenport Community School District JB Young Opportunity Center, located at 1702 N Main St. 

On July 14, 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation for Scott County due to the impacts of Friday’s severe weather. The Governor’s Proclamation means that grant assistance and case management services are available to impacted residents for needs including: auto and home repairs, clothing, food and emergency housing. Individuals and families must meet income eligibility guidelines to qualify for the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program. There are no income eligibility guidelines for case management assistance. 

Individuals or families needing assistance can contact: 

Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program directly. Forms are available on-line at this link. 

or

Information can be obtained from HACAP by calling 319-739-0056, emailing [email protected], or visiting https://www.hacap.org. 

In addition, impacted residents that experience legal issues (tenant landlord disputes, employment disputes, etc.), insurance issues or related questions can contact Iowa Legal Aid for assistance.  Iowa Legal Aid assists low-income and senior Iowans with “civil” or non-criminal problems, including many of the challenges disaster victims face. If you have further questions and need legal help, call Iowa Legal Aid at 1-800-532-1275. More information at www.iowalegalaid.org. 

[July 14, 3:30 PM

Emeis Park lost several large trees, but there was no damage to the playgrounds or ballfields. Emeis Park Road is closed temporarily during the cleanup for the next few days. 

City crews are also working at Junge Park, cleaning a layer of mud off the baseball fields and clearing debris. The fields will need to be regraded to bring them back to playable condition. 

Vanderveer Park lost a large tree on the west side of the park, but overall damage is minimal. 

[July 14, 4:15 PM]

The City of Davenport completed its damage assessment following the severe weather event on Friday, July 11. Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation for Scott County, directing more resources for response and recovery. Information on applying for individual disaster assistance programs available to Scott County residents is posted here.  

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado cut through Davenport with peak winds estimated at 120mph. The tornado’s seven-mile path started southeast of Bluegrass around 5:00 p.m., continuing northeast through Emeis Park and ending near Kimberly and Fairmount around 5:13 p.m.

Damage assessments

City of Davenport staff recorded damage at 18 properties during assessments on Saturday, noting varying degrees of damage from trees to roofs and visible flooding problems. The assessments were performed in known low-lying areas and based on a heat map of requests. The total does not include properties where homeowners did not self-report issues like flooded basements. The most significant damage assessed was to apartment buildings on 35th Street, where three buildings were tagged as unsafe, impacting 25-30 residents.

Emeis Park lost several large trees, but there was no damage to the playgrounds or ballfields. Emeis Park Road is closed temporarily during the cleanup for the next few days.

City crews are also working at Junge Park, cleaning a layer of mud off the baseball fields and clearing debris. The fields will need to be regraded to bring them back to playable condition.

Vander Veer Park lost a large tree on the west side of the park, but overall damage is minimal.

Tree debris pickups

The City is asking for help from residents with tree damage to make tree debris pickups more manageable and speed up collection. Large limbs should be cut shorter than five feet in length, bundled, and left in the resident’s normal collection spot. Smaller limbs can be bagged in a Kraft-ply bag and placed for collection. Sticker fees are waived through August 1. Debris will be picked up on regularly scheduled collection days. Residents can also drop off tree debris at no cost at the Davenport Compost Facility at 2707 Railroad Ave.

Damaged property pickups

City solid waste customers with flood-damaged property, including furniture, appliances, and rugs, can place items for pickup in their normal waste collection spot. Smaller, loose items should be placed in bags, each weighing no more than 50 lbs. The City asks residents to call Public Works at #563-326-7923 to report damaged property and request a pickup. People in residential housing with more than three units and commercial property owners or tenants will need to contact their insurance company, landlord, or contracted solid waste service.

[July 13, 10:45 AM]

To assist residents in cleaning up after Friday's storm, the City of Davenport is temporarily waiving the sticker and fee requirements for yard waste collection through August 1. Yard waste must be placed at the resident’s normal collection point in Kraft-ply bags or in a yard waste cart.

Residents who have tree damage can bundle tree limbs and place them at their usual collection point for pickup. Limbs should be no longer than 5 feet, and each bundle should weigh no more than 50 pounds.

Collection will be on a resident’s regular collection day. Please be patient as the collection may take a couple of weeks.

Contractors assisting residents with the cleanup may also drop off tree debris for free at the Davenport Compost Facility through August 1, 2025.

[July 12, 7:30 PM]

Davenport city crews are assessing the damage caused by the severe weather event on the evening of Friday, July 11. This was a significant storm for people in neighborhoods across our community. The City of Davenport is working with the Scott County Emergency Management Agency and other partners to support residents through the recovery process.

The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter for all displaced Scott County residents at the Davenport Community School District (JB Young Opportunity Center), located at 1702 N Main St. in Davenport. Residents can also contact the Red Cross directly for emergency assistance and connections to resources at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Emergency response

The Davenport Fire Department responded to 144 calls for service from 5 p.m. – midnight. The weather-related calls came from people in flooded cars or those experiencing flooding in basements. Other callers reported storm-related wind damage, downed power lines, and/or trees in the roadway.  There were no reports of serious injuries.

Damaged property pickups

People with flood-damaged property, including furniture, appliances, and rugs, can place items for pickup in their normal waste collection spot. Smaller, loose items should be placed in bags, each weighing no more than 50 lbs. The City asks residents to call Public Works at #563-326-7923 to report damaged property and request bulky waste pickup. Calls will be accepted during normal business hours starting Monday, July 14. This is for flood-damaged property only.

No household hazardous materials or building materials will be collected. Household hazardous materials will need to be taken to the Waste Commission of Scott County’s Household Hazardous Materials Facility, and building materials will need to be taken to the landfill.

Tree debris pickups

Residents with tree damage can place bundled tree limbs in their normal collection spot for pickup. Limbs should be no longer than 5 feet, and each bundle should weigh no more than 50 lbs. Pickup will be on regularly scheduled collection days.

Home repairs & permitting

If repairs are significant (structural damage, standing water, roofs, etc.), permits are required before work begins. Properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area will also require a Floodplain Development Permit. Resources on Building Permits and Floodplain Development Permits are posted under “Specifications and Forms” at  www.davenportiowa.com/build.

Scam warning

While there are no reports of scammers in our area at this time, we would like to remind our community that scammers often pose as contractors offering to repair storm damage, but they may be unqualified, overcharge, or even disappear with payment before completing the work. Residents can review the scam prevention information posted here for more ways to protect themselves.

[July 12, 2:45 PM]

What should I do with flood-damaged items?

Flood-damaged property can be placed at your normal collection spot for pickup. Please call Davenport Public Works at #563-326-7923 during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) to share your address and what has been placed for collection. ***This is for flood-damaged property ONLY.***

Wet rugs and furniture can be placed for collection after they have dried out in the sun. This is for the safety of our staff. Smaller, loose items should be bagged after they’ve dried out. Bags should weigh no more than 50 lbs.

No household hazardous materials or building materials will be collected. Household hazardous materials will need to be taken to the Waste Commission of Scott County’s Household Hazardous Materials Facility. Building materials should be taken to the landfill.

[July 12, 11:50 AM]

Here's a rundown of the Parks and Recs facilities closed for Saturday, July 12. 

Annie Wittenmyer Aquatic Center is closed for public swim today.

Fejervary Aquatic Center will be open.

"Kids to Parks Day" event will go on as planned at Fejervary Learning Center from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Duck Creek and Emeis Golf Courses are both closed for storm cleanup. Red Hawk Golf Course is open for walk on only.

Credit Island Park has no power; MidAmerican Energy is working on it.

[July 12, 11:15 AM]

Public Works, Police, and Fire are continuing their response to last night's storms. Please be patient as crews work to remove trees and debris from roadways. As you begin to recover, remember to document damages and to call your insurance adjuster before cleaning up.

TREE DEBRIS PICKUP:Bundle tree limbs no longer than 5 feet and no more than 50 lbs. Place them at your usual collection point for pickup on your normal collection day.

Staff will be out in the community this afternoon conducting damage assessments. All staff will have City identification.

ROAD CLOSURE:South Concord is closed between River Dr. and Utah due to high river levels. The Mississippi is expected to crest around 14 feet on Sunday and quickly recede next week.

[July 11, 10:50 PM]
Davenport Police, Fire, and Public Works crews continue to respond to the storm event that caused property damage and flooding across the City. As the storm moves out of the Davenport area, here is a list of resources to report damage and get assistance.

• For life safety emergencies: Please call 911.
• To report trees down in the roadway: Call Public Works at 563-326-7923.
• To report damage to your home or property in Davenport: Visit www.davenportiowa.com/pwrs. Click “Make a service request” then select “Other/General Information”.
• To report a downed power line or an outage: Call MidAmerican Energy at 888-427-5632.
• For emergency shelter information, general assistance, and connections to community resources: Call the American Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

[July 11, 2025, 9:10 PM]
The American Red Cross has closed the emergency reception center at CASI. Anyone who becomes displaced from their home due to flooding or damage should call the American Red Cross for assistance: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

[July 11, 2025, 8:00 PM]
The Scott County area has experienced a large amount of rain in the last two hours with more to come this evening. Community members are asked to:

• Stay home if you are safe to do so
• Do not drive through flooded streets; many areas that are not normally flooded have been impacted 
• Please only call 911 for life safety emergencies; the call volume is high and responders addressing high priority calls first
• Do not call 911 to report property damage or flooding unless it presents a life-threatening danger 
• Monitor local news and weather apps to keep alert to changing weather situations 
• Individuals living near creeks or streams should stay vigilant and monitor the situation for fast-rising water and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. 
• Individuals displaced from their home due to flooding can go to: American Red Cross Reception Center at CASI (Center for Active Seniors, Inc), 1035 W Kimberly Road, Davenport. 

For general assistance (connection to community resources), please call the American Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).