Iowa Legal Aid launches mobile law office for disaster response [Video]

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Legal Aid launched a new, mobile law office this week, aiming to bring free legal services directly to those impacted by natural disasters.

It’s called the “Justice Bus.” The bus is equipped with everything needed to take intakes and process a case.

Nick Smithberg, Iowa Legal Aid’s executive director, said a lot of people don’t think of there being a legal component to disaster recovery, but it’s something that comes up pretty early in the process.

”Survivors have issues with insurance companies, with contractors, with FEMA appeals, with public assistance and really just putting their lives together and reassembling their documents,” Smithberg said.

Iowa Legal Aid plans to use the custom-built vehicle to bring its services to rural or underserved communities that may not have direct access to one of the main offices.

”We do have ten offices but it’s a big state. There …