In June 2024, historic rainfall caused flash floods across northwest Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, leading to record-breaking river overflows. Homes, farmland, and companies near the West Fork of the Des Moines River faced devastating impacts. State and federal response teams, including FEMA, mobilized quickly to address the crisis.
Recognizing the urgent needs of Iowa communities, FEMA contacted Lindblom Services, Inc., a family-owned business in Sioux City specializing in waste removal solutions for residential and commercial customers since 1969. During the flooding crisis, Lindblom provided critical services like portable toilets and wastewater removal, helping alleviate logistical challenges for FEMA responders and residents. The CIRAS APEX Accelerator program played a key role in helping Lindblom prepare for this opportunity by assisting with their System for Award Management (SAM) registration.
“When FEMA requested help with Lindblom’s SAM registration, we were ready to assist,” said John Michel, a government contract specialist with the CIRAS APEX Accelerator. “Our goal is to simplify the government contracting process and ensure companies like Lindblom are fully prepared to respond in emergencies.”
During the floods, the APEX team collaborated with FEMA to identify additional vendors in the area, enhancing the agency’s response efforts and positioning APEX as a key connector of resources in disaster preparedness in future emergencies.
“We were happy to assist during such a critical time,” said Carl Lindblom, director of Lindblom Services. “We had the availability and manpower to do it. This was an opportunity to step up for our community.”
For more information, contact John Michel at jmichel@iastate.edu or 515-686-0279.