Clean Up: First Impressions

Well today it was time to start the dirty work. I have offered my clean up services to a few friends and businesses I frequented before the flood. The South West side was the location of the work today; at my friends house. She was one of the lucky ones as her house sits a few feet higher than her neighbors. The water flooded her basement to within 3" of the floor above.

It was pretty much what I was expecting though the stench was not as bad as I had anticipated. They had already been at work for an hour or two before I arrived and the 5 piles of separated garbage were starting to take shape curb-side. Like wise many of the homes in the area had the ultra-amnesty garbage day appeal.

After the greetings to the assembled cleaning crew and donning my make-shift haz-mat suit I descended the basement stairs for the first of many times that day. What greeted me at the bottom was a dark, droopy mess of family memorabilia from 3 generations. Dark because there was no power to the house and the entire 3 room basement was lit by 2 lights running from a generator. Droopy because if it was wood or cardboard it was sagging. A mess because as the water drained things settled in odd places with a slimy layer of black muck over the top of everything.

We took a mid day break and walked the neighborhood and found extensive damage to many of the homes. Missing foundations water damage, cars that had been submerged and general junk from who knows where.

We made a big dent and managed to clean out 3/4 of the basement. Tomorrow will be getting the big items up out of there and doing a bleach and power-wash job on the entire basement. So time for a shower!

I have pictures of the clean up still to post, so stay tuned.

Traffic Relief

As of 7am this morning the Downtown Bridges have been reopened to the public and I-380 left lane restriction has been lifted. The intersections downtown do not have signals, so they are all being treated as a 4-way stop intersection. The curfew for flood affected areas is still in effect.

It's in the Air

The flood waters have started to recede, at some what of a rapid pace in some areas. I drove, with a friend, down I-380 last night. As we entered the affected area of downtown we were slapped in the face with the strangest combination of smells, none of which were pleasant. I have a strong constitution but that stench even made me nauseous. We're gonna need a whole lot a respirator masks.........and rubber boots.

After the Crest: Downtown

1st Ave.


I hope Fat Wally's is dry.....

2nd Ave.

KCRG News Team at work. Thanks Guys, Great Job!

After the Crest: Images East Side

These images were taken going north along I-380 looking east; between Wilson Ave. up to 3rd St., about 2 miles. Friday 13 7:30pm



Penford Plant Rail yard


Looking up 8th Ave. Over the bridge is Mercy Hospital, Penford is to the right.




8th Ave. at the I-380 overpass








Looking east up 1st Ave. into downtown


Back side of Dairy Queen on 1st Ave. Refrigeration unit is floating







Shots of Downtown bridges with debris collecting against sides

Looking south down 1st St.



Looking south down 2nd St.

Proper Sand-Bagging Attire

What all the cool sand-baggers are wearing this year.
And yes, they smell as good as they look, OUTSTANDING!

After the Crest: Images West Side

These images were taken going south along I-380 looking west; between 1st Ave. up to Wilson Ave, about 2 miles. Friday 13 7pm



Looking west up 1st Ave.






Looking west down the 9th Ave. RR right-of-way



At least the river can follow street sign directions. ONE WAY!

After the Crest: I-380 Causeway

At 1st Ave. the water, in places, was about a foot from the girders of the I-380 causeway.

After the Crest: Bridges and Boat Houses

North of the Quaker pant is a RR bridge. RR cars were parked on it in efforts to stabilize it from the strong currnet and pressure as the river flowed through. North of the bridge is the Ellis Boat House community. These are cabin homes built on individual floating platforms. Some broke loose from their moorings and floated down river, some intact, and slammed into the RR bridge adding to the pressure. As of this morning The bridge still stands.


RR Bridge with Boat houses against back side.



Depth of water at RR bridge. Sorry I had to push the exposure for detail.


Detail of Boat Houses against RR Bridge

After the Crest: Quaker Oats

Quaker Oats is one of the the biggest supplier of cereal in the nation. The silos at the plant are the biggest continuous-form-poured concrete structures in the world.



Aproching the Quaker Plant on the right. I'm on Interstate 380 (I-380) about 4 stories up on a causeway.




Parking lot with Flooded trucks




Looking into the Quaker rail yard.




Overall shot of the west end of the Quaker plant




The water all through the flood area had a very strong current.

After the Crest: Mercy Hospital

Mercy hospital sits at 10th st. and 8th Ave. It was evacuated and sand bagged Thursday night as a precaution. More than 300 people showed up at 11pm to help with sand bagging efforts that lasted into the early morning hours.

Another orientation detail of the Street system in Cedar Rapids; Streets run north/south and Avenues run East/West and both go up in number as you get further from the river. So 10th St. would be 10 blocks away from the river.



Mercy Hospital 8th Ave. Entrance



Sand bags were placed inside and out around the enterance to hold the water back. The basment and first floor were the only affected areas.



Sand bags hold back 2.5 feet of water from Mercy on 8th St.



In an emergency send in the National Guard. Thanks NG!



Looking down 8th Ave. at 10th St. The bridge in the distance is where the river should be.

Rising Water

I was first made aware of possible flooding Tuesday June 10th 2008. I went that morning to the Cedar River to photographically record the hight of the water and intended to come back everyday to the same spots to record the rising water levels. I had no idea the extent of what was about to strike the city in which I live.

To give you some reference, the building in the pictures is the built on an island in the middle of the Cedar river with bridges connecting it to the west and east sides of town.

Tuesday 8am

Wednesday 7:30am

Wednesday 8:30pm

Friday 7:30pm Looking in the opposite direction from the I-380 Bridge