Cedar Rapids Bracing for Flooding: Voluntary Evacuations, Closures and What You Need to Know

We generally focus on Marion, but since many people travel to Cedar Rapids for work and due to the severity of the 2008, I wanted to pass along some key pieces of information from Cedar Rapids about flooding and the rising river.

Prepare

The City of Cedar Rapids is encouraging residence to be prepared. If you live in a low lying area that has previously experienced flooding, plan how you will safely leave your home and have your valuables prepared to leave quickly. The City of Cedar Rapids is monitoring this fluid situation and will give as much notice of evacuations as possible. Citizens are encouraged to prepare, rather than to react for an evacuation. 

Examples of low lying areas that are encouraged to prepare for a potential evacuation include: Newbo, Time Check, Rompot, and the Czech Village areas. The homes on Ellis Rd west of Edgewood Rd NW were informed that their properties would be inaccessible on Friday morning. Citizens may also learn of updates to Flood Alerts at the City’s website at www.cedar-rapids.org.

There is a “Flood Alert” in red and orange at the top of the page. All press releases, street closures, and preparation for the floods will be posted here. A press conference with updates of the flood will be held at the Cedar Rapids Police Department, 505 First St SW, on Friday, May 31, 2013, at 10:00 am.

In anticipation of rising Cedar River levels, Cedar Rapids Public Works crews began last week implementing the approved strategic response plan for flood situations.  Activities include staging 20 pumps, installing 18 plugs, placing 10,000 sandbags, building one earthen berm behind the Police Department and one along the Sinclair property in the 1500 block of 2nd St SE, and closing flood valves at preplanned locations adjacent to the river. 

Over the next 24 hours crews will build earthen berms at the entrance to the landfill on A St. SW and at the intersection of Ellis Lane NW and Ellis Blvd NW, they will also install 30 concrete barrels in storm inlets. 

Based on forecast river levels, it is expected Ely Road at Old River Road will close during evening hours today.  During the overnight hours, it is likely that Ellis Road at Edgewood will close, meaning the Edgewood Rd. bridge will not be available for travel.  Also overnight, 1st Street SW will have flood mitigation devices in the travel lanes which may cause closures or localized water ponding on the roadway. Closures and times are tentative and may change based on actual river levels.  All citizens should expect road closures and arrange travel plans accordingly.  Localized water ponding may occur due to plugs placed in storm water structures.  Motorists should never drive on roads that are covered with water and should stay out of flooded areas. The Cedar Rapids Utilities Department continues to monitor the river levels closely. 

Given the current river level prediction of 19.8, the Cedar Rapids Water Division operations should not be affected.  The Water Division, which saw impacts from the 2008 Flood has since raised the height of 43 vertical wells by 5- 10 feet and raised the electrical equipment in 2 collector wells, providing an added level of security for our drinking water system during this flood event. The Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control Facility is seeing increased flows to the plant as rain water enters the sewer system through inflow and infiltration.  The facility can process up to 136 million gallons per day and is currently seeing flows of 100 million gallons per day.  The Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control Facility will continue to modify operations to respond to the situation. 

If the amount of wastewater entering the plant exceeds 136 million gallons per day, sewer backups may occur.  For more information on current road closures, city activities, and general safety information related to current river level and flood response, please go to http://www.cityofcr.org and click the red “ALERT” link. 

Safety Near Waterways

The Cedar Rapids Police and Fire Departments are asking the public to stay smart near the waterways. With the rising waters, please do not stop on any of the bridges crossing the Cedar River to see the river. It causes traffic hazards. 

Do not park and walk across the bridges either. Again, it causes traffic hazards. We are asking the public to stay home, away from the river or flooded areas. The Cedar Rapids Police has responded to traffic concerns at 12 Ave SE and the Cargill area. The city and many private companies are using large earth moving equipment in preparation of rising waters. Curious citizens only congest the area and are causing problems.

Citizens should stay out of the possible flood areas. We appreciate the media encouraging citizens to stay home and keep up to date on any flood issues through TV, radio and newspapers. Thank you.

The City of Cedar Rapids has asked residents within the City limits west of Edgewood Road on Ellis Road NW to voluntarily evacuate.  By 7 AM on Friday morning, there are ten homes in this area that will have restricted access due to flood waters.

Based on previous flooding events, these homes become surrounded by water when the Cedar River reaches 18.5 feet. The Cedar Rapids Police Department went door-to-door to provide notification to the affected residents.  This was completed around 7:30 p.m.

Closures

The Edgewood Road bridge will likely be closed by Friday morning due to the closure of the Ellis Boulevard and Edgewood Road intersection.  Motorists should seek alternate routes.

The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department has closed or will soon close the following parks due to flooding: Prairie Park Fishery, Cheyenne Park (including the off-leash dog area), and Seminole Valley. The Ellis gardens are flooding, all of the boat ramps have been closed and the Sac and Fox Trail remains closed.

River Crest

The City of Cedar Rapids is responding to the current rising river levels. 

Cedar Rapids City Manager, Jeff Pomeranz said, “We are aggressively addressing the current rising river levels.  City staff is working throughout the community, implementing the city’s flood response plan.” 

The National Weather Service has increased the prediction for the Cedar River crest to reach 19.8 feet, which is 4 feet higher than its current level, by this Saturday at 11:00am. Citizens should stay out of closed areas and away from standing or flowing water.   

City staff is fully engaged in flood response activities to help mitigate potential flooding at a 20 foot river level. City staff is deploying pumps, plugs, sandbags, barricades, etc., and closing valves at preplanned locations adjacent to the river.  Staff continues to monitor forecast river levels, as well as actual river levels, and additional response actions will be taken as necessary to address changes as they occur. 

Tips

The City of Cedar Rapids has materials available for residents to create sandbags at Bowling St. and C St. SW. Cedar Rapids residents who live in low-lying areas next to the river can prepare by:·        

• For those properties with sanitary sewer backwater valves, ensure they  are closed. 
• Ensure sump pumps are operable.         
  
• Remove cars from underground parking areas.
• Avoid parking cars on streets in low-lying areas near the river