Iowa historical flooding spotlight

Iowa has experienced it fair share of flooding over the years from the 1929 and 1993 flooding to more recent 2008 floods. In the most recent flooding the 2008 flooding caused by the overflowing Mississippi River was one of the most damaging floods to happen locally to the state. Lessons learned from the 1993 flooding help prevent more catastrophic damages to areas hit by the waters. The flooding of the 1993 is the most costly and devastating flood to occur in the United States. The 2008 floods called for many roads to be closed and greatly affected the railroad systems. The extreme flooding stressed the local police and sheriff departments. Outside law enforcement agencies from FBI, ATF, and Drug Enforcement Administration were some on the scene to help evacuated and maintain peace. Officers from Minnesota, Saint Paul, and Bloomington also showed up to help in the crisis. Amongst the list of agencies deployed to help in the affected areas many services were used for roadblocks, barricades, handling routine calls and responding to burglary calls. Flooding and waters damages accumulated to at least 7 billion dollars worth of damages. Homes, buildings, police departments and courthouses were amongst the many structures damaged by the floods. Fleets of restoration companies were there to respond and to help restore properties.

Flooding began around June 8, 2008 and ending in most parts by July 1, 2008. Cedar Rapids and Iowa City were cities that had experienced the most damages. Less damage was accumulated for Iowa City then that was expected, but Cedar Rapids had received more damages than what was anticipated. Areas that first experienced flooding were in Decorah on Monday June 9, 2008 after a small levee was broke from waters in the Upper Iowa River. These waters threatened sanitary systems which implied a “please don’t flush” order. Spillville and Fort Atkinson experience intense flooding from the flooding Turkey River. The one year old bridge carrying the Iowa Highway 24 was swept away from powerful flood waters. The Iowa River caused severe flooding to Iowa City and Coralville. Flooded waters had risen intensively to call for people to prepare for evacuation. Sixteen of the University of Iowa’s building had been flooded. Time was on the campuses side as they were able to save important books and art from its building before flood waters had became too intense. Amongst major building that had been damaged by flooding are the Paramount Theater, African American Culture Center Museum, National Czech and Slovak Museum, Helen G. Nassif YMCA building, and the Mother Mosque of America. On the Mississippi river locks 13 through 25 were closed making the inaccessible to commercial traffic. In the city of Burlington the flood waters had posed some a threat that the annual music festival had to be closed three days early. Several streets had to be shut down due to rising flood waters. In spite of all the flooding and damages Burlington’s newspapers The Hawk-Eye still remained in operation. Health concerns rose as polluted waters overwhelmed sanitary systems, petroleum products and other toxic materials. Hot and humid summers were expected mosquitoes to be very bad. The higher amounts of mosquitoes can increase the risk of the West Nile Virus to spread. With flood waters carrying infectious debris free tetanus shots were being offered in many areas.