The Census Bureau is slated to release place-by-place population counts and other data for Iowa in February or March. One of the questions officials hope that data will answer is whether the Flood of 2008 reversed population growth in Cedar Rapids, as some suspect.

“When you see houses empty, it’s natural to assume that those people are gone,” said researcher Liesl Eathington with Iowa State University’s Regional Economics and Community Analysis Program, “but they might just have gone somewhere else in the (city). It will really be interesting to see if the local perceptions … will really be borne out in the numbers.”

She points to reviews of the Cedar Rapids area immediately after the flood and about a year afterward. She said they showed that the city’s underlying economy remained relatively strong compared with many other parts of the state.

“And because of that, there wouldn’t have been this bigger reason for a big out-migration due to the flooding,” she said.

The Census Bureau’s most recent estimate of Cedar Rapids’ population, published in July 2009, put the city’s population at 127,764, up only 0.4 percent from the year before. Iowa’s two other largest cities posted larger gains: Des Moines, up 1.5 percent, and Davenport, up 1.2 percent.

There’s no question that Cedar Rapids has increased population since the last decennial census in 2000, which put the city’s population at 120,758. How good is the 2009 estimate, though? Will the actual census count reveal the city’s population has dropped below the estimate?

Mayor Ron Corbett suspects Cedar Rapids withstood a mass exodus after the 2008 flood akin to that of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A significant percentage of Cedar Rapids flood victims, he said, were retirees, whom he describes as more settled and who he guesses decided to stay even if they lost their homes.

Corbett also points to the city’s Personal Possessions Replacement Program, which paid up to $10,000 to nearly 2,000 flooded homeowners this year. Some 90 percent of those checks have gone to people living in the Cedar Rapids metro area, he said.

“So I think most people relocated here,” Corbett said. “We probably had a drop right after the flood, but we’re showing signs of recovery.”

Stephanie Neff, assistant director of Linn County Public Health in Cedar Rapids, was among a group of local leaders on the Linn County Complete Count Committee. Their mission was to make sure that residents driven from their homes by the flood were found and counted.

Several key programs funded by federal and state dollars are tied to population, and Neff said it is always important to get residents counted. This time it was critical, she said, because of dislocations from the flood. Linn County, she said, wanted to make sure its population surpassed 200,000, up from 191,701 in 2000.

Jeff Davidson, director of Iowa City’s Department of Planning and Community Development, said population numbers for cities matter greatly in terms of funding for streets, housing and neighborhoods, but he adds that the numbers matter, too, for a city’s sense of itself.

Davidson notes that the 2009 census estimates showed only a handful of Iowa’s 99 counties grew in population in the previous year, and those counties, he said, were located in the Des Moines metro area and the Corridor between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Read the full version of the story on The Gazette’s website.  The article paints a compelling picture about what information from the upcoming Census data might reveal about Iowa’s population.

There is uncertainty about the population count of Cedar Rapids since the floods of 2008.  Was the city’s growth in population reversed by the Flood of 2008 as suggested in Cedar Rapids, which lost an estimated 1,300 homes to the flood?

Several buildings on the Iowa State University campus, such as Hilton Coliseum where the Cyclones play basketball, are besieged by water. It was reported via Twitter that there is currently five feet of water inside the building, causing the floor of the basketball court to float.

“This is a particularly dangerous situation,” said Ames Fire Chief Clint Petersen.

The Iowa Department of Transportation closed Interstate 35 just south of Ames, and as well as both lanes of U.S. 30 are also closed from I-35 to U.S. 69.

Adding to the chaos, city officials are now worried about a mysterious leak draining one of the city’s water towers. Ames Mayor Ann Campbell said this afternoon that the water tower at State Street and Mortensen Road is “reducing rapidly” due to a broken water main pipe.

ISU football players were stacking sandbags around the football stadium Wednesday in an effort to help save buildings. The University of Iowa has offered to help ISU and the city of Ames with flooding issues on campus.

The above pictures are compliments of The Troendles photostream on Flickr.

If you or your family were affected by the devastating 2008 storms in Iowa, you may be experiencing ongoing physical, emotional and financial stress. Ticket to Hope can help. It’s a free program and will help you regain a sense control over your life.

Ticket to Hope provides up to eight counseling sessions from a licensed mental health professional in your area. The program is managed through the Iowa Department of Human Services. You and your family are eligible to receive free counseling through Ticket to Hope if you meet the criteria below.

Unfortunately, the program is slated to expire at the end of June. Hopefully the Iowa DHS decides to continue the program.

People can call the Ticket to Hope hotline at 1-800-447-1985 for more information.

Czech and Slovak Museum &amp Library Grand Re-Opening: Now located at 87 16th Avenue SW, in the heart of the Czech Village, the new museum also captures the experience so many along the west bank of the Cedar River felt during those days in June of 2008. The flood damage forced the museum to a temporary display at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids before the move back to the Czech Village.

Federal Funds for Czech Museum Not Wasteful, Loebsack Tells Glenn Beck: Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack is firing back at Glenn Beck after the conservative commentator, in a recent column, referred to federal funds allocated to the National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids as “unbelievable waste.”

Flood director makes plea for social equality in awarding flood protection systems: Cedar Rapids flood recovery director Greg Eyerly made an impassioned plea Thursday for social equality in the awarding of federal flood protection systems. Speaking at the first meeting of the Regional Flood Risk Management Team, which includes federal and state officials from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri, Eyerly said if the Cedar River flood of 2008 had “happened in Malibu, they would already have a flood-protection system in place.”

Iowa City nets $25M for flood projects: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was in Iowa City on Friday to announce $25 million in Economic Development Administration grants to design an elevated Dubuque Street and Park Road Bridge and relocate the North Wastewater Treatment Facility out of the floodplain.

Group honored for flood cleanup work: The Iowa River Cleanup Partnership of Johnson County recently received the IOWATER Watershed Group of the Year award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

U.S. Commerce Secretary hands out flood recovery money: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke traveled to Iowa City today to award four Iowa communities with a share of $30 million in grants for flood recovery. Most of the grant money – $25 million – will go to Iowa City to help relocate a wastewater treatment facility damaged by the flood of 2008.

Volunteers needed for cleanup of upper Mississippi River: Living Lands & Waters is seeking approximately 800 to 1,000 volunteers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri to take part in a first-ever, multistate cleanup of the upper Mississippi River. The event will take place Saturday, June 19, with a goal of involving volunteers in 22 cities from Saint Paul, Minn., to St. Louis. LL&W also needs site coordinators for each location, boats and drivers and supplies.

Stop playing politics with people facing real hardship: “It is as if a tornado hit their home or a flood wiped out their community,” says Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. “It is an emergency, and we respond to emergencies with emergency spending.”

Senators question flood mapping [Burlington Hawkeye] - A bipartisan group of senators, including Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, questioned the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about flood insurance rate maps created for communities and individuals.

Historic, Possibly Deadly Flooding Predicted Swath of U.S. [ABC] – More than a third of the U.S. faces a high risk of flooding this spring, and Midwesterners may get the brunt of it, according to government forecasters.

University of Iowa’s Iowa Flood Center

Student project uses sonar to measure river levels [ICP] – A project spearheaded by a group of University of Iowa students has the potential to help hundreds of Iowa communities be better prepared in future years when floodwater threatens. The team of engineering students has developed a relatively low-cost, automated sonar sensor that when fixed to the underside of bridges can transmit up-to-the-minute data on river stages.

Iowa flood legislation washes aside [DMR] – Calls for more aggressive measures intensified after record floods in 1993 and a string of high-water crises that followed, causing $20 billion in damage. They intensified again after record flooding in 2008. Rising rivers this spring have prompted fears of another round of devastation. “It’s unconscionable that they could even consider adjourning without at least addressing some kind of flood plain development issues,” said Marian Gelb, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Iowa Environmental Council.

Grassley advises city leaders on flood protection system [CR Gazette] – Sen. Chuck Grassley told city officials Friday afternoon at City Hall that it will be easier for him to make a case for a federally-funded flood-protection system in Cedar Rapids if the city has the backing of the Army Corps of Engineers, Mayor Ron Corbett said.

Officials: We’re ready for flooding [IC Press Citizen] – Municipal and state officials said they learned lessons from the 2008 flood and are better prepared now to deal with spring flooding.

State officials urge Iowans to buy flood insurance [Radio Iowa] – State officials are urging Iowans in flood-prone areas to buy flood insurance. Angel Robinson, the Consumer Advocate in the State of Iowa’s Insurance Division, says only 15,000 Iowans currently have flood insurance. “I would also remind Iowans that their homeowners policies and the coverage that they’ve bought for their properties for commercial businesses will not actually cover them in case of a flood,” Robinson says.

UI, Cedar Rapids Brace For Flooding [KCCI] – The University of Iowa is still recovering from historic floods in 2008, but the school is preparing for the potential for more high water this spring.

Rebuild Iowa Press Release

MARCH IS FLOOD AWARENESS MONTH

Governor Culver to Sign Proclamation on Thursday

(DES MOINES) – Today, several state agencies kicked off a month-long public information campaign designating March as Flood Awareness Month. Flood awareness is particularly important since Iowa is still recovering from the floods and storms of 2008. The 2008 disaster was not only the worst natural disaster to strike the state, but is considered one of the largest disasters on record in U.S. history.

The Rebuild Iowa Office, the Iowa Insurance Division, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division will share flood-related information and safety tips with the media and the public throughout the month of March. Special presentations have also been organized in various communities about the benefits of flood insurance and preparing for future disasters.

“We do not know exactly what this spring will bring, but we do know that the storms and floods of 2008 have made us all aware of the need to be prepared,” said Governor Chet Culver. “We want all Iowans to be aware of the resources that are available to minimize loss should flooding occur again.”

On Thursday, Governor Culver will sign a proclamation declaring March Flood Awareness Month at a public event at the Capitol at 8:30 a.m.

State officials advise people to start assessing their risk of flooding by being aware of whether they live in or near a flood plain, discussing flood preparations with their families, and considering flood insurance. Iowans who rent or own a home or business should also be aware of the availability of flood insurance. Iowans want to consider looking into the insurance as soon as possible, because unlike homeowner’s insurance, there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance begins once a person purchases a policy. Iowans can find out more by visiting the Rebuild Iowa Office’s Web site at www.rio.iowa.gov.

Another helpful Web site for Iowans to refer to is www.FloodSmart.gov. Homeowners, renters and small business owners can estimate their premiums, calculate their flood insurance rate and find a local insurance agent qualified to sell flood insurance on this site. There are currently 15,360 flood insurance policies in Iowa, up approximately 40-percent from this time in 2008.

Lastly, Iowa’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division offers three simple steps for Iowans to protect themselves and their families before a flood or disaster occurs:

• Learn about and stay aware of flood risks in your community.
• Work with family members to put together a family emergency and evacuation plan.
• Put together an emergency kit before a disaster strikes.

Iowans can learn more about flood safety tips, evacuation plans and how to prepare for a disaster at www.bereadyiowa.org.

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Cedar Rapids City Council approves flood buyout plan

The Cedar Rapids City Council has unanimously approved a plan for buying-out flood-damaged homes. This comes not long after over 100 flood survivors turned out for a town hall meeting to quiz city and federal officials about the progress.

The city is now in its 19th month of flood recovery, and there are still thousands struggling to recover. Those who attended the meeting didn’t understand why the city wasn’t moving faster on buyouts. Their frustrations were evident, and the city responded.

After the vote, the city is prepared to pay property owners 100 percent of pre-flood assessed value for their properties.

Part of the plan includes creating a “hardship advance” for the most affected of the 1,300 property owners awaiting a buyout of their flood property. The property owners who receive an advance would have to pay it back when the buyout is complete, though.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett says he worries some people in a financial position where they need money so badly they might rush into an agreement on the buyout price. Corbett claims a hardship advance would help prevent people from being taken advantage of in the process. City Manager Jim Prosser says the hardship program would be steered toward a small number of people on the verge going into bankruptcy or losing their property.

Corbett would like to pay property owners 110 percent of pre-flood value on their properties. He is leading a charge to make the city’s buyout plan more generous for flood survivors than a plan adopted earlier. Council members endorse his effort to convince state and federal officials to amend the buyout plan from last year.

As additional help, those receiving buyout letters can seek their own appraisal of their flood-damaged house, with the city paying up to $500 for the appraisal.

The city is also looking into using the Local Option Sales Tax money to give homeowners their money quicker, side-stepping the wait for the buyout process to move forward.

Questions should be directed to the Cedar Rapids City Council.

A look at City Hall in downtown Cedar Rapids

The city of Cedar Rapids is facing a tough question; should it rebuild the flood-damaged city hall or should it develop a new city hall from scratch?

It is a tougher question than most might think.

The city estimates it will cost taxpayers either around $50 million to build a brand-new City Hall or an almost $4.5 million cost (of an estimated total $39 million renovation project) for the flood-damaged Veterans Memorial Building and City Hall to be revived. In the long term scheme, the costs are almost equal.

Something else complicating things is that the city must renovate Veterans Memorial Building even if it builds a brand-new City Hall. FEMA will pay most of the cost of the estimated $39 million rennovation, but the taxpayers will have to cover some expense as well.

Another variable in the mix is flood insurance. “The total cost estimate over time for returning City Hall to the flood-damaged Veterans Memorial Building includes a $23.5 million cost for flood insurance,” compared to not needing flood insurance for a new City Hall in a different location.

One more option for City Hall is investing the money into relocating City Hall to Westdale Mall, where several other governmental organizations are now located. This option is the most costly to taxpayers than the other two options, but it is also one of the more popular options among CR residents.

Regardless of what decision is made for the City Hall project, it is clear that the Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas are ready to move on with life after the flood, and want action fast.

For more information, see the following stories:

Rebuild Cedar Rapids city hall, or build new one?
Future Of C.R. City Hall And Library On Display
CR Looks to Revamp Recreation & Parks Post Flood

Vets Poster Boards

Disaster Assistance Information

The majority of Iowa has sustained massive flood damage from the recent historic flooding. Help the victims recover from this catastrophic event by donating.

FEMA: Individuals and business owners who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA Website
FEMA Coordinates Federal Response to Midwest Disasters
After a Flood
Apply for Assistance

CDC: During a flood and its aftermath, there are some basic facts to remember that will help protect your personal health and safety.

What You Should Know
Keep Food and Water Safe
Reentering Your Flooded Home
Sanitation and Hygiene

Red Cross: The Red Cross is providing Iowa flood victims with shelter, food, counseling and other assistance. Donate at 1-800-HELP NOW or en espanol 1-800-257-7575 or online at www.redcross.org

The Red Cross will have cleaning supplies available for flood-affected residents beginning June 18. Daily distribution site times are 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM at sites located at Von Maur in Westdale Mall and at Sam’s Club parking lot on Blairs Ferry Road NE. Cleaning supplies will be provided to individual families. Contact Peter Teahen at 319-360-0716.

The Red Cross is currently distributing clean up kits to help Linn county residents to begin cleaning their homes and businesses. These kits include such items as rakes and mops for people to use in the clean up effort. These kits are available at Westdale Mall. The kits will also be distributed at the Wal-Mart store on Blairs Ferry Road NW.

The Red Cross Website
Grant Wood Chapter

Iowa Department of Human Services: DHS has several programs to help with the damage caused by flood and storms. This page contains information about the Individual Assistance Grant Program and scroll down for infomation about emergency food assistance programs.

DHS Website
Disaster Assistance

Iowa Concern Hotline: Iowans who need assistance or wish to volunteer with recovery efforts should contact the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985. For the 24-hour NON-emergency flood information and volunteer line, call 211 from a land line or (319) 739-4211 from a cell phone or call 739-0586.

Johnson County Emergency Management: Dave C. Wilson, Coord., (319) 356-6028

Linn County Emergency Management: (319) 363-2671

Free Conseling Help Line for Flood Victims: OptumHealth announced that it is providing a free help line to people in Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin who are coping with the emotional consequences of recent floods affecting large portions of these states. Staffed by experienced master’s-level behavioral health specialists, the free help line offers assistance to callers seeking help in dealing with stress, anxiety and the grieving process. The toll-free help line number is 866-342-6892. It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for as long as necessary. Service is free of charge. Resources and information are also available via the Internet at www.liveandworkwell.com.

News stories about how pets were affected by the floods of 2008