We pulled some of the most useful numbers from our Who to Call in the Des Moines Metro guide and turned them into a quick reference worth saving.

911 — For situations happening right now that threaten someone's life, safety, or property, including fires, serious crashes, crimes in progress, or medical emergencies. (Des Moines Digest)

MidAmerican Energy: (800) 799-4443

Even if your neighbors' power is out too, reporting the outage helps the utility track the problem. (Des Moines Digest)

MidAmerican Gas Emergency: (800) 595-5325

Leave the building first. Don't flip switches or try to find the leak. Once you're safely away, make the call. (Des Moines Digest)

Des Moines Public Works: (515) 283-4950

The line operates 24/7 for issues such as potholes, streetlights and other city street problems. (Des Moines Digest)

Des Moines Water Works: (515) 283-8700

Use this for major leaks, loss of water pressure or suspected water-quality emergencies in areas served by Des Moines Water Works. (Des Moines Digest)

Animal Rescue League of Iowa: (515) 262-9503

The ARL handles animal-control calls across Des Moines and much of the surrounding metro, although some communities have their own arrangements. (Des Moines Digest)

Metro Waste Authority: (515) 244-0021

For unusual items — paint, electronics, mattresses, yard waste and more — the MWA's “Where It Should Go” tool can help you figure out whether to recycle, donate or dispose of it. (Des Moines Digest)

Call 211

This might be the most useful number on the list. 211 is free, available 24/7 and connects you with a person who can help point you toward the right government agency, nonprofit or local service. You can also text your ZIP code to 898211.

👉 Bookmark the full guide: Who to Call in the Des Moines Metro

It includes police non-emergency numbers, public works, utilities, code enforcement, crisis support, county services, animal control, transit and more — organized by the problem you're actually trying to solve.

Dinner table conversations are one of the easiest ways to reconnect after a busy day — here's a question for every night this week.

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Friday, August 28 – Sunday, August 30 | Western Gateway Park | Free admission

This is the big one, neighbors — one of the largest festivals in Des Moines, drawing in around 90,000–100,000 people every year, and it's completely free to walk through. Expect dozens of vendors serving up food and drinks from countries all over the world, plus two full stages of live music, dance, and performances running all weekend.

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and just camp out on the grass for a while. It kicks off Friday at 11 a.m. with a Nationalization Ceremony hosted by the U.S. District Court, which is honestly one of the most moving ways to start the weekend if you catch it.

Whether you go for an hour or make a whole day of it, this is the kind of event that makes Des Moines feel like Des Moines.

Thank you so much for reading — we hope you found something fun, helpful, and inspiring in today's edition! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share it with your friends and family so they can be part of the fun too. The more the merrier! We'll see you back here on Monday for our next edition. Have a wonderful weekend, Des Moines! 🎉

— Alex | Des Moines Digest
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