Stories: Flood 2008

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2008

From Ann (Hass) Fleckenstein:

Great news from CR- lots of businesses are starting to move back into downtown! I had to go the 5th Avenue Pharmacy today (yes, it is still there across from McKinley) today and took the 7th St. Exit into downtown- lots of cars driving around, parking etc. around 3rd and 3rd and 2nd and 3rd, etc. Something we haven’t seen in 2 months. Many businesses have relocated, so lots of empty buildings elsewhere in the community are now full- another blessing in disguise. The CR Museum just put up a new show that displays the photographs taken by the Gazette before, during and following June 13th. I continue to be amazed at the resilience of the people of Cedar Rapids- the unity, the pride and so many other things- truly an example of what the definition is of the word “community”. We still continue with fund raising activities, relief help (so thankful for everything that has been donated) and with “placing the displaced”. I also have received calls about your website-it is working- great job and thank you for doing this for our class and the CR community. I never did find out how much money the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation raised….very curious about that and the efforts of Z102.9 (radio station that most would not be familiar with, but is most popular with the CR youth (and the parents that listen in as well!)).

CR schools started yesterday. The weather here is already like early fall weather- just gorgeous with low humidity and temps hovering around 80 during the day and mid-50’s at night. Odd for August, but most that I talk to think it is wonderful and I must say I agree. We seemed to have lost summer this year, but looking forward to fall, football games at Kingston, leaves turning and all the same things that Iowans always appreciate about the change of seasons.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008

From Kathy (Thompson) Niblick

The CRANDIC bridge has been one of the areas that depicts the vast extent of the devastation. In the video, all of the rock that the crane is sitting on had to be put in the river in order to support the crane. The work is far from over; as I was calling displaced students from Roosevelt Middle School, some families have yet to be able to get into their homes (with temperatures reaching 94 today I can only imagine the mold, let alone the smell). Those that have returned to their homes still have to go to the KMart to get their mail and others are living in the 2nd floor as they gut and rebuild their basements and 1st floors. http://gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080725/NEWS/875346206&SearchID=73325878342498

Again, you would be proud of your hometown...most every day there is a letter to the editor from people outside of the area (Red Cross, service men, various churches, etc.) that have volunteered. They all talk about their experience and how positive it was and how honored they were to help because of the people of Cedar Rapids.

Jana Happel and the class of '78 has challenged all other 30 year reunion classes to fundraising efforts. There are some businesses in the area that have said that they will match the funds raised; pretty amazing. Hopefully by the time our 30th reunion comes around you will see the 'bigger and better' Cedar Rapids; but it will definitely be different.

From Ann (Hass) Fleckenstein:

Some businesses have started to re-open downtown. I received a letter from Ginsberg’s and I don’t think they currently have a store front. Smulekoff’s opened their first floor this weekend and one of the Wells Fargo Banks also opened. Helen Nassif YMCA has also re-opened with limited access to the previous facilities. It is slow going, but Cedar Rapidians are a resilient bunch! They did have the Farmer’s Market downtown yesterday- in GreenSquarePark. Bluesmore was this weekend as well with an excellent turn out and some really great bands. Jazz Under the Stars starts Thursday at Noelridge….the city just keeps moving forward….

I do know that they have brought in FEMA trailers. My friend who lost her house is supposed to get a trailer, but they had to send a number of them back due to mold problems (lord only knows we don’t need any more of that!). They have offered her $16K total pay out plus the trailer. At 80 something years old that isn’t going to cut it….she is in the same situation as many.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008

From Kathy (Thompson) Niblick

I was actually in Indiana at the time this was happening and couldn't get home for a few days as both 80 and 380 were closed. It was very surreal to watch Fox News and the Weather Channel talk about Cedar Rapids all day long...

The aftermath is what is so unimaginable...like Ann said, it literally goes from 7th St east to 13th St west, past Edgewood road north and I don't know the names of streets in the Rompot area to the south--piles and piles of people's lives six feet high and more on the parkways. Most every home has a filthy washer, dryer, refrigerator, water heater, and sometimes freezer waiting to be taken to the dump (they took the top off of Mt. Trashmore and put some gravel roads up it to help with the disposal of what they say would fill 5 football fields 60 feet high), along with everything else you can and can't imagine.

Downtown is destroyed, but you can feel good as an Iowan that everyone is working toward a new city. The local radio station has t-shirts for a $20 and above donation that say:

"RISING ABOVE CEDAR RIVER at CEDAR RAPIDS 31.12 FEET Friday the Thirteenth of June 2008

From Candace (Chadima) Warder

We live in Robins and our office building had a few feet of water in it. We were blessed to get it cleaned up within a few days, unlike most of the flood victims. I have friends who are business owners and their buildings are completely destroyed. BUT.... here is a story we all want to hear; Other business owners who have the room are letting them use their building so they can continue on.
We own a mobile washing business so my husband is downtown helping with the clean up. He brought a few of his employees here from other states to help and their response after seeing the devastation is as follows; "We have seen the pictures on TV but until you actually see it, those photos do not show the whole story. This is absolutely unbelievable." All of LinnCounty well water users, including us, are currently not able to use our water due to the high bacteria content. Please pray for protection!
As stated in the flood stories, the unity here is awesome. Many are doing something to help! Nothing like a catastrophe to bring people together and to SEE how badly we do need each other.
May God bless everyone who is affected and may He bring restoration!

From Ann (Hass) Fleckenstein:

There are now 2000-3000 homes in Cedar Rapids that are slated to be demolished. 300 will be demolished next week following notification to the home owners. Last night the city council met and we have requested 500 FEMA trailers to help us with temporary housing. In addition, there are still hundreds living in the Red Cross shelters at Prairie and Viola Gibson. Palo is technically a complete loss. They are teams being deployed out of Viola Gibson to help the community tear down and/or salvage what can be salvaged. The animal shelter at Kirkwood is housing 650 pets in the equestrian center. We are still working away at this, but as things start to sink in frustration is also building. I was glad for the write up from the Red Cross volunteer!

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008

From Ann (Hass) Fleckenstein:

We went to the Cedar Valley Humane Shelter today and the Kirkwood/Friends of the Shelter as well. They have LOTs of pets to take care of. At Kirkwood, there were people there looking for their pets. All of the animals have to be de-contaminated, have shots and of course be housed and fed. Their was a couple in front of me that just got back into their house yesterday- a complete loss- looking for their 2 cats and a dog. The dog and one of the cats were at the shelter! One of the cats is still missing. If there were words, I would tell you…..there just aren’t words. Downtown is still being pumped. I saw inside Ginsberg’s this morning and it has been gutted- as I suppose many businesses are going to be. My brother came in from Kansas City to help the Stephan’s (Sheila Stahlberger’s husband) clean out his business which was also flooded. The piles of “stuff” are simply amazing. It stretches from behind CoeCollege to Wilson Avenue- blocks and blocks on either side until you start the hill climb to Kingston on one side and on the other side, I am not sure- maybe 10^th ST?

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2008

From Ann (Hass) Fleckenstein:

Here is an update from Theatre CR. If people want to know how they can help, here is another way!

(Copied from Theatre Cedar Rapids e-news): Our home in the IowaTheatreBuilding was partially underwater during the floods of 2008. We are still pumping water out, and there is no electricity to the building, so we haven't been able to do a full assessment of the damage. However, here is what we do know:

1. Water covered the stage, and covered all but the last three rows of seats on the main floor.

2. The historic pipe organ, one of only 40 still left in the world, suffered water damage but is still intact. Members of CRATOS have examined the organ and are currently looking into how much of it can be saved.

3. The dressing rooms, green room and costume room were all completely underwater during the flooding, meaning that virtually our entire costume stock is destroyed. Some have asked if it's possible to clean the costumes, but due to the contaminants and sewer leakage contained in the floodwater, it is not believed that any garments can be saved at this point.

4. The TCR lobby suffered relatively minor damage. All carpeting has been removed due to floodwaters, but George T. Henry's photography was undamaged and most of TCR's archival material survived. The TCR staff was also able to rescue its office equipment. We credit this lack of damage to TCR volunteers, whose sandbagging efforts kept water from coming in through our front doors.

5. We have taken extensive photos of the damage to the building, as well as our cleanup efforts so far. To view those photo galleries, Use the links below.

Gallery 1: Flood Damage

Gallery 2: Making Progress

There are many ways to help TCR during this difficult time. Here are a few:

1. Donate items for cleanup. Once it's safe for us to be back in the IowaTheatreBuilding, we'll have a lot of cleanup work ahead of us. So we are seeking protective gloves, booties, eye protection, masks and hand sanitizer. We also need shovels with flat ends, either borrowed or donated.

2. Make a donation to help us purchase a new truck for the Tech department. Our old truck did not survive the flood. We also are in need of wireless Internet cards for our laptops, and legal notepads.

3. Volunteer your time. It is because of volunteer efforts that our lobby suffered as little damage as it did; sandbag walls built by volunteers kept the water at street level from breaching the office and most of the lobby, with the exception of the carpet. We need more of that volunteer spirit to bring the IowaTheatreBuilding back. We need folks to help with cleanup, as well as set building, performances and other opportunities. If you are interested, send an e-mail to kate@theatrecr.org. Community Relations Assistant Katie Knutson is putting together a database of volunteers for flood relief based on those who have e-mailed us or signed up through Facebook and MySpace.

4. Support the TCR Capital Campaign. It's ironic that we launched a campaign in March to raise $3.5 million to preserve the future of our building, because now we need that more than ever. Please help. Contact nina@theatrecr.org to learn more.

5. BUY A TICKET! No. 5 may be the single best thing you could do for us, and it doesn't involve getting a single drop of floodwater on you. We need to get the word out that TCR is not shutting down because of this. Our success this year will depend a great deal on ticket sales, and camp participation, because we need our audience to rally around us and show that they need us here in Cedar Rapids. Please consider buying season tickets for our 75th Anniversary Season, or becoming a Member of the theatre. See the info and links below.

Also, through the Kirkwood Foundation for all of the displaced animals (they have over 100 (that is what they said on the radio- the shelter told me 1000) in this temporary shelter):

Kirkwood Foundation

C/O Friends of the Shelter

Kirkwood Blvd S.W.

Cedar Rapids, IA52406

The destruction here is truly unbelievable. There is so much “lost” piled up everywhere- office furniture, computers, cars, furniture- they are basically bulldozing everything from 1^st Ave 12 blocks to the west and 1^st avenue 5-8 blocks to the east. Today we saw a huge pontoon floating backwards down the Cedar headed under the 3^rd Avenue bridge- smashed top and no driver.

My friend, Athie Zulakis- mentioned before, who was seamstress at Armstrong’s for years- her boys all graduated from Washington, lost her house. When I walked in today, following my shot for tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, (all free through the clinics and mandatory if you want to help with clean up) I was completely shocked! First of all, getting around the Ellis area is almost impossible. You have never, ever, seen anything like it. People are moving and then sitting outside and staring at the piles of ruin. It is piled high in front of every house, business, and restaurant. Her house, like too many others, is pretty much a total loss- the wood floors buckled and falling apart- everything soaked in mud and water up to the light switches. The only things that were saved (in a few small boxes) were some china and a few pictures-that’s all…Downtown is still under surgery- there are tubes pumping water out of buildings everywhere. I don’t know- I just hope that those who can-will donate. We need help...

Still others reporting in from around the country, even around the world, including Paul Miller (Colorado)and Foster Hawkins (Australia), report that their Cedar Rapids-based families are relatively unaffected.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008

From Cathy (Williams) Mataloni (from a Cedar Rapids news source):

In preparation for the immense recovery and rebuilding efforts our community will face, The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation today opened the Flood 2008 Fund for flood relief and recovery donation.

This fund will support nonprofit organizations in LinnCounty who are providing first-response efforts and ongoing recovery and rebuilding throughout LinnCounty.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation encourages donors to support first-responders like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Way of East Central Iowa. The Flood 2008 Fund will support these organizations immediately as well as funding recovery and rebuilding efforts in the day, weeks and months to come.

Donations may be sent to:
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
PO Box 9
Marion, Iowa52302

Other donation methods are currently being explored and more information will be shared in the coming days. For more information on how you can help, go to www.gcrcf.org or call Bud Synhorst, vice president of resource development at 319.550.4538 or 319.366.2862 or at bud.synhorst@gmail.com.

From Ann (Hass) Fleckenstein:

Here are some photos that really show how flooded CR is (see the photos link)….the water is now receding and we are only starting to be able to see how much damage has be done. The impact is phenomenal as much of Cedar Rapids history/historical places/businesses and homes are located in close proximity to the Cedar River. Fortunately, Tom Hoyt moved his jewelry business out of downtown several years ago. In one of these photos, you can see Ginsberg’s is totally submerged. Both Wells Fargo banks on either side of the river are also submerged. Most would remember one as the old Brenton Bank. As mentioned in other emails, many businesses will probably be lost never to return. The Paramount Theater, CR Theater, Science Station, Public Library, Main Post Office Downtown Bus station, Qwest, Verizon, Alliant Energy all flooded as I am sure the US Cellular Center did. Little King’s, Boston Fish, Al’s Red Frog, Zendrick’s, The Flamingo and many, many other Cedar Rapids long time favorites are or have been underwater. I haven’t talked to Peter Durin, but Durin Electric and Stamats both were flooded as well. The list goes on and on…. Penford most likely has dumped a ton of chemicals into the Cedar River. Many of us have waded through the water trying to sandbag, to get what we can out of businesses and homes and now there are clinics giving free tetanus shots in hopes of avoiding illnesses related to the river water. Iowa City and Coralville have not faired any better in all of this. Hancher, U of I, U of I Art Museum, the Coralville strip, and again, many, many homes are all under water as well.

For those of you that don’t live here- if you could see what has happened, it would break you heart. What is amazing in all of this is the sense of community. Everyone has pulled together to help one another through this; for that we are grateful. I talked to a woman yesterday who works at Rockwell- her husband has worked in maintenance at MercyHospital for 30 years. Had people not gone out in the middle of the night to sandbag Mercy, the hospital would have been a total loss. As of yesterday, the CancerCenter was re-opened! Many people are still in shelters- well fed and clothed and safe. There are large rescue efforts around saving pets that were left behind and several emergency animal shelters have been opened. For the most part, people who want to get to their homes and businesses have been patient (and of course very anxious) and cooperat ive with the CR Police, Fire Department and National Guard.

It is hard to believe that 8 years ago this summer, we had a beautiful party celebrating the class of 1980 at the CzechMuseum, which as mentioned in a previous email was totally submerged underwater.

Others watching the news around the country, including Krist (Robison) Dannelly and Gretchen (Merz) Danner: Each one has used phrases like "heart wrenching" in describing how sad it's been watching the reports.

MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2008

From Diane (Rider) Bradford

As you know, the river crested on Friday. Thankfully it seems to be receding quickly. All of the bridges are closed in town except for I-380. Other roads and bridges in the area are flooded so traveling is difficult. We were dangerously close to losing all of our water supply. We are back to 50% last I heard so we are conserving water big time. The cleanup has not really started yet. Some people are being escorted back to their homes and businesses but the progress will be slow since the buildings must be inspected first. be doing a lot of cleanup this summer to help those who were affected by the flooding.

For now, I do not know how people can help but I will let you know when I find out. I figure that our family will be doing a lot of cleanup this summer to help those who were affected by the flooding.

From Marcia Mays

I am still living in Cedar Rapids. I think the best way to keep posted on what is going on here is to check either www.kcrg.com or www.kgan.com, our local news stations. Although, the newspaper has had some phenomenal photos too, www.gazetteonline.com.

Some quick notes to maybe describe the damage, the only bridge connecting the east side of the city to the west side is the I-380 interstate bridge. All of the other bridges were covered with water ( 1^st Ave, 2^nd Ave, 3^rd Ave, 8^th Ave, 12^th Ave, and 16^th Ave ). CzechVillage ( 16^th Ave SW ) has a lot of damage, and so does the Time Check area ( Ellis Blvd NW ). There no longer is a “ MaysIsland “ ( where the court house is located ). Smulekoffs Furniture could also be considered destroyed.

Today is Monday and my office is in Hiawatha. To help the city of CR, we are still abiding by the water restrictions…which means we have a lot of port o potties in our parking lot for use. The city is only at 50% capacity for producing water. Residents that have house numbers ending with an even number can shower and do laundry today, tomorrow will be the odd number homes.

There has been help coming from everywhere, law enforcement from Minneapolis, several national guard units, and numerous volunteer organizations. Fortunately, there has only been 1 death that I have heard of. Keep the city in your thoughts and prayers!

From Ann Jaycox (from a friend of her family)

The flooding situation has become much worse here in eastern Iowa. The 100 year flood is about 20', the 500 year flood is 24' and as I type this we are at 30.4' and hoping to crest at 30.8 later today. For those of you who know CR georgraphy, the water has completely flooded the east side of downtown CR. Water is up to the railroad tracks. The National Czech Museum is under water, Smulekoff's Furniture Store first floor is entirely under water (not to mention the basement), US Bank (formerly Merchants National Bank) has their first floor flooded (safe deposit boxes are in the basement), all downtown stores and offices on street level are flooded all the way to the RR tracks. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Avenue bridges are completely under water. The railroad bridge near Penick and Fordt (now Penford Products) was weighted with railroad cars and has been completely collapsed by the power of the water. There is another railroad bridge closer to Quaker Oats that has been weighted with cars in hopes it does not go with the water. We also do not have mail service because the main post office is flooded. We lost power for about 4 hours yesterday (rain storm related-not flood) . . . This morning they are requiring us to use water for drinking purposes only. . . Some people are worrying about sewer backups . . . Mercy Hospital has flood waters on it's ground floor and is having to evacuate patients from the hospital. I heard some are going to Independence. Both St. Luke's and Mercy are in the evacuation area and have had their power turned off--and are on their generators. The Linn County Courthouse and jail were evacuated yesterday and the prisoners are in secret locations. The air views we have been seeing on TV show the entire downtown area from 5th Street East to 8th Street under water. We have been told the best coverage (although ours is pre-empted by local coverage) is on ABC News (Charles Gibson) at 5:30 CDT. The Good Morning America coverage this morning had one of their anchors in downtown CR and said he had seen a lot of devastation, including Katrina and that this area was worse than Katrina! Hope that puts it into perspective.

From Paul Fabian

My folks are still in Cedar Rapids, but were spared any real pain. They did have to conserve water, but that was all. My youngest sister live in Des Moines and was ~ 8 block from being evacuated. Living in Minneapolis has only caused me some hail related issues, but no flooding. While driving my daughter to Madison for summer classes I did have to deal with I-94 in Portage, WI being closed, but I used my Spidey sense to find a back road around that problem.

Others (including David Gasway, Tracy (Garner) Jenkins, Leslie (Burns) Davis, and Julie (Kimber) Simet) report that their families are mostly out of the danger zone, dealing with some restrictions on water, and some water in basements. Julie Carmichael, who is watching news reports from her home in Hong Kong, reports that her parents have (thankfully) moved away -- thankful because her father's former office at 101 3rd Ave SE is completely flooded.