Rising water from the Cedar River forced the evacuation of a downtown hospital today after residents of more than 3,000 homes fled for higher ground. A railroad bridge collapsed, and 400 city blocks were under water.
In Des Moines, 100 miles to the southwest, officials issued a voluntary evacuation order for much of downtown and other areas bordering the Des Moines River. Mayor Frank Cownie said the evacuations were an attempt “to err on the side of citizens and residents.”
Des Moines is Iowa’s capital and largest city, with about 190,000 residents. But the hardest-hit was Cedar Rapids, a city of 124,000 people.
Gov. Chet Culver declared 83 of the state’s 99 counties to be state disaster areas, and nine rivers were at or above historic flood levels. Elsewhere in the upper Midwest, rivers and streams tipping their banks forced evacuations, closed roads, and even threatened drinking water.
13 WREX-13, Maverick Media & the Rockford Register Star have partnered with Gypsum Supply to help Iowa residents who have been devastated by the floods.
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That’s why we’re stepping in to offer aid, but we need your help. Drop off your donations at the Gypsum Supply truck at Gustafson’s Furniture in the North Towne Shopping Plaza through Saturday morning.
Supplies needed include: Bottled water, Gatorade, work gloves, shovels and ice.
Please do your part in helping those in need.
RRStar
Local Rockford rivers are approaching major flood stage and are closed to river traffic. Use care near the rivers.
Also included in the first RRStar story above is this fabulous picture of a tornado:
Please donate what you can, water, leather gloves, shovels -- and be prepared for what may be dangerous flooding here.DKK
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