Cedar Rapids Flood

The eastern Iowa city of Cedar Rapids experienced its worst flooding in history in June 2008. By June 16, 2008, more than 36,000 people had been evacuated from their homes in Iowa, and 24,000 in Cedar Rapids.¹

Once the floodwaters began to recede, some residents were allowed back into the area on June 17, 2008, to check on homes and businesses. Cedar Rapids officials said property damage in the town could exceed $1 billion.²

Fast Facts

1. Flood evacuations began in Cedar Rapids on June 12, 2008¹
2. Some residents allowed back into town on June 17, 2008
3. Officials estimated 3,900 homes damaged by flooding²
4. 1,300 city blocks submerged at the height of the flooding³
5. Property damage could exceed $1 billion²
6. Floods displaced 24,000 people in Cedar Rapids¹
7. Many residents were rescued by boat
8. 167 patients evacuated from Mercy Medical Center in downtown Cedar Rapids⁴
9. Water flooded the hospital's basement⁴
10. Nine rivers in Iowa were at or above flood stage at one point⁵
11. Large percentage of Iowa counties declared state disaster areas¹
12. Evacuations also ordered in Des Moines, Iowa

Quotes

"We are seeing a historic hydrological event taking place with unprecedented river levels occurring. We're in uncharted territory — this is an event beyond what anybody could even imagine."—Brian Pierce⁵

"The rest of the levees in the city have not broken down but the problem is the water went way up over the top — well over a foot over the top of the levees. It's a 500-year flood and it just overwhelmed us."— Dave Koch⁶

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