Expected levels declared
Local officials say 1993 flood levels are expected
Iowa River
Iowa River surpasses flood stage of 22 feet
500-year flood expected
Local officials say 500-year flood expected.Cedar River predicted crest: 20 feet in Cedar Rapids.
Sandbagging
City braces for flood by sandbagging, building dirt levees.
Bridges Close
Cedar River predicted to crest at 24.7 feet.River crest forecast gauge fails.Downtown bridges close in the evening.
Evacuations Start
Police and volunteer citizens go door-to-door to assist with evacuations.
More sandbagging
Volunteers sandbag and save the city's last water well.May's Island, downtown, and neighborhoods inundated.Thousands without power (including all of downtown)
Flash Floods begin
Heavy rains produce flash floods.Predicted crest: 32 feet.8,000 citizens evacuated, including Quaker Oats, Cedar Rapids Police station and all of downtown.
River crests at 31.1 feet at 10:15 am
River crests 20 feet above flood stage.10,000 evacuated (including Mercy Medical Center)Water use limited to drinking only.Interstate 380 closed at Iowa River bridge.U.S. Coast Guard arrives.
Flood waters peaked at 31.12 feet
Floodwaters peaked at 31.12 feet, setting a record high and overcoming the previous record of 20.00 ft set on March 18, 1929.
Disaster Areas Declared
Linn and Johnson counties declared federal disaster areas.
Strike teams beging checking homes as flood waters slowly receed
Strike teams begin entering flooded neighborhoods to determine saftey.Tempers flare when residents are denied entry to their neighborhoods.
River level: 24.3 feet
River falls to 24.3 feet -- still higher than any previous flood level.
Strike teams beging checking homes as flood waters slowly receed
Strike teams begin entering flooded neighborhoods to determine saftey.Tempers flare when residents are denied entry to their neighborhoods.
Corridor Recovery Official Launch
At 3:00pm, Corridor Recovery (via www.corridorrecovery.org) was officially launched with an announcement at the daily press conference by Mayor, Kay Halloran.Corridor Recovery is a not-for-profit partnership between government, civic, business and faith-based organizations, created to respond to the Flood of 2008. As the flood waters peaked, Corridor Recovery quickly became the primary resource for materials and information for the local area.
City Hall Moves
City Hall moves to an Aegon-owned building.The city and county offices go to Westdale Mall.The courts are moved to Kirkwood College.
Highways begin reopening
Interstate 380 reopens to allow access to and from Iowa City.
Bridges reopen
Four downtown bridges reopen.City council sets up contractor certification system.Pleas for buyouts begin.
President Visits Cedar Rapids
The President visits the Cedar Rapids Emergency Operations Center.
Floodwaters receed
Floodwaters receed revealing mud-covered neighborhoods and ruined shells that citizens called home.
Water restriction lifted
Water restrictions are lifted except for industry corporations.
River level back to normal.
River level drops to 12 feet for the first time since June 2.
Number of homes to be razed
City says that 2,000 homes are likely to be razed.
$2.6 billion aid package signed
President Bush signs $2.6 billion aid package for Midwest disasters.
Mercy fully operational
Mercy Medica Center announces operations are fully restored after flood.
FEMA trailers arrive in Cedar Rapids
The first FEMA mobile homes arrive in Cedar Rapids for temporary housing.
City cautious about buyouts
The city cautions homeowners not to count on FEMA buyouts.
Red Cross closes
Red Cross closes on emergency shelter; local agencies take control of the other shelter.
Small Business Recovery Fund
The Cedar Rapids City Council contributes $3 million to the Job and Small Business Recovery Fund.
Flood Control Plans
Cedar Rapids holds the first of three open houses on flood control plan.
Cedar Rapids School District moves
Cedar Rapids school headquarters reopen in mobile homes at Kingson Stadium.
School starts... student move.
The school year starts in Cedar Rapids with students from the flooded Taylor school moved to other schools.
Homeowners requested buyouts
A list of 739 homeowners requesting buyouts from the city is submitted.
Speaker of the House visits
The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, tours Iowa disaster sites, including Cedar Rapids.
Jumpstart Announced
Governor Chet Culver announces $40 million in state Jumpstart funds for tornado and flood victims.
Norwoo Souvenir announces closure
Norwoo Souvenir announces it will close the century-old plant at 202 F Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids.
Norwoo Souvenir announces closure
Norwoo Souvenir announces it will close the century-old plant at 202 F Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids.
Grant Funding becomes available
$85 million, first of two rounds of block grant funding, released to Iowa.
City Council commits to buy outs.
The Cedar Rapids City Council commits to buying out flood-damaged properties between the river and proposed levees.
FEMA closes last center
FEMA closes the last of the disaster recovery centers in Iowa.
Volunteers help rehab 140 homes
Over 1,400 volunteers with Eight Days of Hope rehab 140 homes in Cedar Rapids and Palo during a weeklong stay.
Buy Out home demolitions begin
The first of 71 city-designated home demolition takes place at 1229 Fourth Street SE, Cedar Rapids.
Swiss Valley closes
Swiss Valley Farms announces the closure of its 88-year-old plant at 133 F Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids.
Library opens temporary location
The Cedar Rapids downtown library announces the temporary move to Westdale Mall (to move in January 2009)
Flood Protection Plan adopted
The Cedar Rapids City Council adopts the flood protection plan and sends it to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
