June 16, 2008

Iowa Under Water

Record-breaking floods leave tens of thousands homeless in Iowa

By Claudia Atticot

Rivers and streams tipped their banks causing widespread flooding throughout Iowa last weekend. A strong storm system whipped through the Midwest bringing powerful tornadoes and drenching rains. Days of bad weather left many neighborhoods submerged. Floodwaters swallowed up hundreds of homes and businesses.

JULIE JACOBSON—AP Residents in Burlington, Iowa, create a water barrier using sandbags around Memorial Auditorium, which sits at the edge of the Mississippi River.

Rising Waters

By Friday, nine of Iowa's rivers had reached or were above historic flood levels. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second largest city, the Cedar River crested at almost 32 feet, about 12 feet higher than the last record, set in 1929. More than 400 city blocks were left underwater.

In Des Moines, Iowa's capital, floodwaters from the Des Moines River ripped through levees. "This is the worst flooding we've ever seen--much worse than 1993," said Mike Sullivan, an Iowa City Emergency Management spokesperson. The previous record was set in 1993, when the Cedar River crested over 19 feet.

The emergency room at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids took in two inches of flood water. Patients were moved to other locations after the rising water levels threatened to knock out the hospital's back-up generator. "These poor people," said Sonya Thornton, a technician at St. Luke's Hospital, where many of the evacuated patients were taken. "They looked half-terrified and half thankful that they had someplace to go where they could finally rest and be cared for," she said.

A State of Emergency

By Monday, more than 36,000 Iowans had been driven from their homes. "I didn't think it was going to be as bad as it was," said Lisa Armstrong, who was rescued by boat with her dog. "We should have left when we were told to leave. I didn't imagine anything like this," she said.

Iowa Governor Chet Culver declared disaster areas in 83 of his state's 99 counties. "It's likely that we will see major and serious flooding on every part of the southeastern border of our state," he said. "We are taking precautionary steps."

Officials estimate that damage from this storm will cost at least $737 million. The floods wiped out about 20% of Iowa's overall grain crop. Flood waters damaged more than one million acres of corn.

More Rain Ahead

Although floodwaters had begun to recede in Iowa by Saturday, officials remained cautious. "The city continues to be very dangerous," said Cedar Rapids Mayor Jeff Beauregard. "But we are doing everything in our power to get people access to their homes as soon as possible."

The National Weather Service predicted an even more significant rise in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers over the next few days. Cities located along the Mississippi River in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana and Iowa braced for record flooding.

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