| Flood 2008 | Ice & Snow Storms 2007-2008 | Map of Area | Updates |
Updated: Thursday, June 26, 2008
Catastrophic Flooding 2008
Snow & Ice Storms (Dec/Jan/Feb 2007-2008)
Map of Marion and Cedar Rapids, IA
Many friends and family have told us they did not realize how close our home in Marion sits in relation to Cedar Rapids. A red star marks the location of our home in Marion, just two miles from Cedar Rapids and about seven miles to the Cedar River in downtown Cedar Rapids.
News Details & Updates
Tuesday, 6/24/08 (10:40am) - I reported with my boys for a Tuesday "Meals on Wheels" delivery route at the Horizons Family Alliance Marion location at 10:40am. We waited with four other volunteers in our vehicles for nearly an hour for the food van--a terrible problem for the clients on my route who were starving by the time I brought them lunch! I delivered fourteen lunches with the invaluable help of my husband's new GPS toy, a Father's Day gift, the "Garmin Nuvi 250w." Then after returning the empty food coolers, I ate lunch and drove to the Sam's Club parking lot at 3:00pm for Red Cross service, loading water, cleanup kits, spray sanitizer and boxes of masks to flood victims who came for help. Monday, 6/23/08 (11:10am) - Although I had called a service line two weeks ago to volunteer my time, no one had contacted me and I couldn't stand to wait any longer. I browsed several Web sites for information and decided to call "Serve the City" at 378-0337. I accepted two assignments for today and tomorrow, in addition to a Meals-on-Wheels route tomorrow. I reported to "Mission of Hope" at 4:00pm and worked until 8:00pm by sorting and folding donated clothing. I also assisted with requests for clothing and shoes. Mission of Hope staff provided a hot meal to all visitors including volunteers like me--stir-fry beef on fried rice, green salad, rolls, fruit salad, veggies, with cookies and cupcakes for dessert. Yum! Friday, 6/20/08 (5:12am) - Local news channels and the GazetteOnline.com unveil flood damage inside the Cedar Rapids Public Library, with books scattered on the floor, knocked out of bookcases and off shelves. The water line appears to have reached at least 5 feet deep on the first floor, destroying two-thirds of the library's books. As this library is the main location housing a majority of materials for the area's public library system (for the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha), this is a devastating loss. Photos source: Library staff, posted at The Gazette Online. Thursday, 6/19/08 (5:26pm) - Air Force One landed at the Eastern Iowa Airport in south Cedar Rapids at 11:30am, and President Bush received briefings on Iowa's flooding by the governor, the city mayor, FEMA and assorted officials. Then he flew over the flood damage in Palo, Iowa and swept south to Iowa City. In his speech, President Bush said: "Our hearts and prayers are -- from around the nation -- go out to people here. It's a tough time for you." Wednesday, 6/18/08 (6:59am) - Bridges in downtown Cedar Rapids opening at 7:00am, over 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 8th Avenues. All lanes now open on I-380, which will alleviate traffic to Iowa City. Also, nice weather forecast for today making a welcome THREE days in a row of dry weather, with scattered thunderstorms coming this weekend. Tuesday, 6/17/08 (5:30am) - I-380 is now open for travel between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, an hour earlier than expected, at about 5:15 a.m. The left lane is reserved for emergency vehicles only until further notice. Monday, 6/16/08 - Check out My News Muse blog for statistics related to this flood. GOOD NEWS--as of 4:00pm today, the I-380 freeway was reopened for travel! This [I-380] is a major arterial connecting Cedar Rapids/Marion/Hiawatha/Robins to I-80, a major east-west route for interstate trucking as well as to Iowa city and the University of Iowa campus, so we are thrilled! CORRECTION posted at 5:19pm: The Department of Transportation did not open I-380 but I-30 today. Interstate 380 will open at 6:00am tomorrow morning. Sunday, 6/15/08 - The Cedar River crested Friday night at nearly 32 feet, 12 feet higher than the old record set in 1929. By Saturday morning the river level had dropped more than 2 feet and was continuing to fall about 2 inches an hour. View a boat tour of flooded downtown Cedar Rapids with videographer Michael Barnes (Cedar Rapids, IA). Friday, 6/13/08 - Govenor Chet Culver declared 83 of the state's 99 counties as state disaster areas. About 4,000 homes were evacuated in Cedar Rapids and some 24,000 residents displaced, officials estimated. Over 400 blocks of downtown Cedar Rapids, IA is underwater. FEMA representatives have arrived and are working actively to help those affected. "We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start," Linn County Sheriff Don Zeller said. "We're going to need a lot of prayers and people are going to need a lot of patience and understanding."

Our hearts and prayers go out to
our fellow Iowans affected by
the recent tornadoes and floods.

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