FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE Fla. - Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Bioterrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness (CBAP) dispatched a disaster management official to Iowa this week to help flood victims recover and rebuild their lives.

Cecilia Rokusek, Ed.D., R.D., a project manager for CBAP, which is under NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, will arrive in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. Rokusek, who specializes in disaster planning, preparation and recovery, will offer her expertise to Iowans.

CBAP, a federally funded center, trains health-care professionals, health care workers, first responders, students preparing for health careers, educators and other professionals, to prepare for man-made and natural disasters.

In Iowa, Rokusek’s first task will be to help the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, which has been inundated by floodwaters. Rokusek, who was recently named Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic, was asked by museum officials to help them with recovery efforts. The museum is one of many commercial and residential properties that have been submerged since the Cedar River crested at 31 feet on Friday.

Rokusek will then travel to Iowa City to help University of Iowa officials with their campus, which has been partially submerged by floodwaters. As many as 10 university buildings have been flooded, Rokusek said.

“My heart goes out to the people of Iowa who are facing one of the biggest natural disasters in recent memory,” Rokusek said. “The locals are calling it a mini Katrina. I want to help these victims recover as quickly as possible.”

Rokusek said she plans to be in Iowa until Friday or Saturday.