b'Member SpotlightT&K Roofing of Ely, IowaDealing with the DerechoBy Morgan Arwood, MRCA Membership DirectorT hemorningofAugust10th seemed like as normal a morning asanyduringthistimeof COVID-19. The days forecast called for light rain with a slight chance of passing thunderstorms for much of Iowa where MRCA Member, T & K Roofing, is located in Ely, IA. The president and owner of T & K Roofing, Kurt Tjelmeland, was working at their office around noon, We started hearing rumors of wind from west of our location but even then, it sounded like a straight-line wind event. We decided to button up jobs to be safe but had no idea of what was about to happen. Just before 12:30 pm the derecho hit. Winds of 90-100 mph hit us for a full hour.Kurt and his staff sought shelter in the interior of their offices. They lost power and cell service. From wherearrived at St. Lukes Hospital by 5 or we were, we could see what was going on outside, the6 oclock that evening to get them winds were going across the windows from left to right.dried-in. Nearly every residence in the Trees and debris flying by. It was something you wouldKurt Tjelmeland area had damage. Our employees never expect. We didnt really understand the amount ofT& K Roofing ran home to check on their homes destruction until later that day.President & Owner and families but then they immediately The derecho caused notably high winds with estimates ascame back to help. I cant say enough high as 140 mph, and spawned an outbreak of low-classabout our employees. A few had some issues they needed tornados, torrential rains, and large hail. The track of windsto address immediately, but as soon as they could get wreaked havoc over 770 miles across Iowa, Illinois andback, they did.Indiana destroying residential and commercial property. The next couple of days they continued without power and T & K Roofing was very lucky. Their office and warehousewith all calls being routed to Kurts phone. T & K Roofing ran suffered only minor damage and their trucks and equipmentall crews, totaling 80 employees, 7 days a week from 5am were also okay. One van had broken rear windows, butto 7pm for the next three weeks. We basically became a other than that, they were good. service department. The first two to three weeks we were As much of the Midwest was trying to figure out howjust trying to get everyone dried-in, said Kurt.to move forward, T & K Roofing had to mobilize.TheyThe sheer amount of work T & K Roofing did over those three weeks is astounding.They dried-in 90 facilities that 40 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'