CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Sept. 25 (UPI) — With the Cedar River expected to reach major flood stage Sunday night, the city is well prepared, officials say.
The river’s crest is predicted at 23 feet by Tuesday morning, The Gazette reported.
When the river rose to major flood stage in 2008, the city suffered more than $2 billion in damages, whotv.com reported. That year, the Cedar River crested at 32 feet.
“I don’t even know how to begin to thank you and your team, you guys have been amazing, you’ve obviously followed the manual,” council member Anne Poe told the city staff. “I pray we get through this in the best of our ability, but I am confident we have done everything that we can without permanent flood protections in place.”
Many have been asked to evacuate their neighborhoods by 8 p.m. Sunday night. In the NewBo and Time Check neighborhoods, semi-permanent barriers made of steel mesh and fabric surround homes and businesses and earthen levees have been constructed.
Cedar Rapids Public Works Director Jen Winter, said any remaining flood protections should be in place by the end of the day.
In addition to the barriers and berms, the city also has closed down bridges and streets, has put more first responders in place and is placing pumps at key locations.
“Everybody has done a really good job and we feel confident by the time the flood comes up we will have done everything that we need to do to protect our city,” Winter said.
