Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Flooding and the Death of a City

I arrived in Cedar Rapids in July of 2008, three weeks after the flood, and have lived in a hotel suite since that time. My husband is a test and start up engineer employed by the state of Iowa to assist with rebuilding the power plants in this area. Throughout this past 10 months I have built friendships with locals and as is my nature, have asked all of them for their stories regarding the flood of June 2008. I have also had the opportunity to talk with volunteer workers that live locally but are out of employment because of the devastation to their businesses. We will be here for another few months at least and are proud to be a part of this effort.

On June 13, 2008, at approximately 10:10 a.m., the Iowa River reached 31.1 feet above flood-stage. Twenty-five thousand people were evacuated. Miraculously no human deaths were reported related to the flood.

However, a city died that day.

Interviewing locals throughout the past 10 months brings a variation on the exact time of the flood crest, probably because of their locale during this time as well as the stresses caused by the extraordinary loss of businesses and residences.

Downtown Cedar Rapids is split by the Iowa River with 5 bridges, multiple railroad bridges, with the city's court system and government buildings sitting on a beautiful island in the middle of this powerful river. Quaker Oats Corporation sits along the river just north of downtown, with its huge storage silos close to waters edge. From the centerpoint of the river out at an eight mile radius in any direction the murkey, swirling, powerful waters spilled over. All homes, businesses and churches were covered without discretion.

At 4:10 a.m. on the 13th the two main power plants in the area, one on 6th street downtown next to Quaker Oats, the other south of town, Prairie Creek Power Plant also on the river, were submerged to the second story, with basements containing critical power equipment flooded within a 15 minute period. The warning system provided about 15 minutes of time for the workers to shut down the plants operating systems before all went under water. At Quaker Oats the water pressure ruptured some of the storage silos causing a spillage of grain, and the loss of these storage facilities adding one more depressing stage to the long-term clean-up facing these fine citizens.

The devastation was incredible, unbelievable, and one would have thought, unrecoverable. Almost immediately the rebuild began. These local people, the people of Cedar Rapids, rolled up their shirt sleeves and began work almost immediately. Volunteer groups formed and all physically capable pitched in, tearing down walls, ripping up floors, rebuilding their city. No one waited for outside assistance to arrive.

Although this City of Cedar Rapids lost twenty-seven thousand residences and businesses one must not forget the other small communities north and south on the Iowa River. North, just outside of Cedar Rapids the small community of Palo with 800+ citizens was completely destroyed. South on Interstate 380 Iowa City was also flooded although not as bad as expected. Just about every river in Eastern Iowa had reached flood stage earlier in the week, and the Great Mississippi River was also at dangerous levels. Again, miraculously, no human deaths were recorded. related to the flood.

Outside help had begun arriving almost immediately on the 14th of June, but locals did not wait. They did not wait for government agencies or outside charities,-- they took it upon themselves to start the process of clean up.

In May of 2009 the city officials of Cedar Rapids voted to keep the port-o-potties in place in downtown areas because of the folks still living without utilities and/or facilities. Another amazing feat was the survival of so many without amenities during a very cold winter. One can drive through the streets of Cedar Rapids residential areas affected by the flood and see tents still standing in the backyards of condemned homes. Tents that have served as housing for the home owners with no where else to go, residents that stayed to help with the clean up and to try to keep their city running during the transition periods.

This writer could go on for many pages relaying heroic works by citizens, by volunteers but the bottom line is that admiration and pride needs to be felt for each and every citizen in Cedar Rapids as well as all of Eastern Iowa. The devastation was as great as that of Katrina,(New Orleans, LA) different to be sure, but as great. There were no lives lost in Iowa, but in comparison the Iowa people stepped up and took charge of themselves. Perhaps they had watched Katrina and the Fema debacle,-- no one will know for sure,-- but they certainly rolled up their sleeves and got to work without complaint, before Fema arrived. In the 11 months since the flood the people of Iowa have proven themselves over and beyond in the characteristics of patience, faith, loyality and love of mankind and the land.

The battle to rebuild continues and as the one year anniversary approaches the teams of volunteers are still working from dawn to dark to rebuild their town. Throughout the city of Cedar Rapids there are banners hanging high touting the rebirth of the city.

Yes, a city died on June 13, 2008, but it is coming back stronger than ever!

Main Sources: Many residents and volunteer workers in or about Cedar Rapids, Iowa offered stories relating to the actual flood, the last 11 months, life as it is now, and continued clean up. All asked to remain un-named, but hope for another article as follow up after the June anniversary date.