With continuous rains in the Midwest, also the river Cedar went beyond its borders and flooded a large part of Cedar Rapids town. Many places had to be evacuated. Diamond V Mills, producer of animal feed additives, with 90 employees in Cedar Rapids, received substantial electrical and mechanical damage from floodwaters that entered its plant and inundated its headquarters.

Diamond V Mills President John Bloomhall said the company got back into the plant last Thursday, and has gone "full speed" into cleanup and recovery mode. "Our goal is to be the first process plant in Cedar Rapids to get back into production," Bloomhall said. We need it for our customers, but we also need to do it for the community."

The employees of the company are still being paid, Bloomhall said. Most of them are working on cleanup at the factory and headquarters, or working from home. The biggest problem Diamond V encountered with its disaster recovery plan was communications, Bloomhall said. The company lost almost all of its communications links, but was able to begin communicating with employees by e-mail late last week.

Diamond V manufactures and markets fermented yeast culture and feed ingredients that improve digestibility and digestive functions for livestock. Bloomhall said employees have been incredibly focused on helping the plant resume operations.

Diamond V's headquarters has temporarily relocated to 1100 Old Marion Road. The company expects to be back in its permanent headquarters sometime this fall.

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