Saturday, June 14, 2008

Floods in Iowa


Buildings and debris are seen floating in the Cedar River against a railroad bridge Saturday, June 14, 2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Days after it rose out of its banks on its way to record flooding in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar River has forced at least 24,000 people from their homes, emergency officials said Saturday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


The flood impacting so much of Iowa (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines right now) is being defined as a 500 year flood. And this is just a few years following what was defined as a 100 year flood in July of 1993.

The pictures and stories are amazing.

Interstate 80 was closed from west of Davenport Iowa to west of Iowa City. This has created a 110 mile detour. I 80 carries SO much truck traffic. I don't know how many times I have driven over this bridge.



This picture is looking down East 14th Street toward downtown Des Moines. This is the area where the levee failed and flooded the Birdland Neighborhood.




This shot shows flooding near Birdland Marina and Park. When Joy was a young girl, she took swimming lessons here.




This is some great video of the flooding along the Des Moines River - all the way from Saylorville Dam. It is a little long but important to see.





3 comments:

Glenda said...

I cannot believe the devastation that is shown in the pictures and video of Iowa. My heart breaks for the people who have lost everything. We are very blessed that all of our family is ok.

Amy said...

Wow amazing documentation, Dad. I am glad too that Grandma & Grandpa and Aunt Sherri & Grandma T. are all okay.

Bailey-ck said...

Hi, Grandpa Earl!!! I'm glad I have a blog now, so you can look at it! Wow! Those pictures are crazy!!