During the flood of 2008, the Cedar River crested at almost 32 feet in Cedar Rapids causing more than $2 billion damage.
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Residents are leaving low-lying areas of Cedar Rapids, adhering to a request by authorities to clear out by 8 p.m. Sunday due to the risk of flooding from the rising Cedar River.
The Cedar River is expected to crest in Cedar Rapids sometime late Monday into early Tuesday at 23 feet.
The river is expected to top 20 feet by Monday afternoon, making it the second highest crest in city history.
The city of Cedar Rapids asked local residents and businesses in affected areas to evacuate by 8 p.m. local time Sunday. Cedar Rapids Schools tweeted photos of people working Friday at Taylor Elementary School.
“Last time, we were an island for three days and we couldn’t get in or out”, Hoth told KCRG, referring to the catastrophic flood of 2008, which caused billions of dollars in damage.
Mayor Ron Corbett said evacuated people should expect the downtown area to be closed off until October 1 following the evacuation.
“They’ve been telling us it was coming for days”.
Cedar Falls officials went into the weekend pleading for volunteers to help fill sandbags as earthen dams and berms were fortified to stave off flooding. The curfew is expected to be in effect every evening until the flooding subsides. He said 300 to 400 Iowa National Guard troops will be assisting police and 60 additional sworn law enforcement officers will be arriving to assist Cedar Rapids police with their operations. Jerman said the department enacted its emergency staffing plan Sunday morning, meaning all officers will be on duty on 12-hour shifts. “We are delighted to be able to do that”, said Father Chris Podhajsky, pastor of Immaculate Conception and St. Wenceslaus, to KGAN.
Alliant Energy says it can not guarantee power to people in the flood evacuation zone.
The river peaked Saturday in Waterloo at 22.65 feet, which was well above flood stage of 13 feet, but less than the 2008 record crest of 27 feet. “We need to wait until it goes down a little bit before we can get into some areas to look at what damage there will be”. Glover said she already knows that some residents have water in their basements and some houses may have water on the first floor, but she can’t get a better idea until flooding recedes.
Up in Waterloo, the Cedar River is threatening to burst over the banks.
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Parts of southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin also remained under flood warnings on Sunday, but it appeared that most of the threat of major flooding has passed in those states.
