Cedar Rapids Flood Story

The Flood of 2008 forever changed Cedar Rapids. When the Cedar River crested, it extended well beyond the 500-year floodplain and covered more than 10 square miles of the city. A year later, thousands of residents are still struggling to rebuild.

While Iowans are known for strength and resilience, the people of Cedar Rapids can only do so much on their own and are left behind by a federal disaster funding system that some say is broken. This is not the first national disaster, and it won’t be the last.

Right now in Cedar Rapids (Palo is a prime example), entire neighborhoods sit empty and rotting. Businesses struggling to rebuild also fight to survive. The state of the economy is not helping the situation either.

The committee, the Cedar Rapids Public Relations (CRPR) group, began meeting February 2009 on a volunteer basis to help address one of the primary post-flood communication challenges. Committee members have spent countless volunteer hours creating a communitywide flood message, listing viable story leads, designing an interactive website, producing a collaborative video and crafting a compelling media kit.

Today marks the official launch of Cedar Rapids Flood Story, a website designed as a way to get out the word about Cedar Rapids. The flood stories are stories that need to be told. When significant destruction hits a vibrant and productive community, every American should care.