Iowa Legal Aid will be out showing off its new Justice Bus in Cedar Rapids this weekend, encouraging survivors of natural disasters to use their free services.

The bus is ADA accessible, comes with enhanced cell service, and has tons of power outlets and data ports for people to charge their phones after a natural disaster.

The bus was specially made by a Winnipeg business that specializes in custom mobile units, and the business told Iowa Legal Aid this was their first custom bus with a pull-out murphy desk in it.

The goal is to provide more outreach and free legal services by meeting people in their own communities.

“It’s not always immediately apparent to people that there’s a legal issue that they’re talking about, but a lot of times there are legal solutions to problems that people have,” Iowa Legal Aid Executive Director Nick Smithberg said. “If someone is having problems with a contractor, for example, they think that’s just a contractor problem. We can help.”

Iowa Legal Aid is inviting residents to check out the new bus and sign up for legal help at a disaster preparedness and recovery event at the Cedar Rapids Public Library on Saturday.

They especially encourage people who’re still dealing with problems from the 2020 derecho to come out, as they may be able to help sort some of those issues out.