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 Looking towards downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on June 12 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | June 7 – around July 1 |
| Overall effects | |
| Damage | $6 billion[1] |
The Iowa flood of 2008 was a hydrological event involving most of the rivers in eastern Iowa which began June 8 and continued until July 1. Flooding continued on the Upper Mississippi River in the southeastern area of the state for many more days. The phrase "Iowa's Katrina" was often heard.[2]
The flooding included (from north to south, east to west), the Upper Iowa River, Turkey, and the Maquoketa Rivers; outside of the Driftless Area, they include the catchments of the Wapsipinicon River and that of the Iowa River, to include the latter's major tributary, the Cedar River (and its significant tributaries); and the Skunk River in its various forks. The Des Moines River had some minor flooding, but floodwalls and levees, for the most part, held fast. The Upper Mississippi River, which receives the outflow from all these rivers, remained at the flood stage.
The flooding of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City were the most significant events. Recovery, in particular for Cedar Rapids, is considered to be a protracted and costly affair. For Iowa City, the level of damage was less than expected, but that of Cedar Rapids was greater than anticipated. In Iowa City, the campus of the University of Iowa was vulnerable, and serious flooding did occur there.
President George W. Bush landed on Air Force One at The Eastern Iowa Airport on June 20. He toured on foot and by helicopter the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City region. On the same day, Senator John McCain made a stop in Columbus Junction.[3][4]
- ^ "FEMA P-765, Midwest Floods of 2008 in Iowa and Wisconsin (2009)", https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema_p_765.pdf
- ^ "Editorial: Iowa's Katrina? Not if state does its part: Charity helps now, but eventually, state must pay Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine," Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 16, 2008, Retrieved June 22, 2008
- ^ John Q, Lynch, "We're going to help you", Cedar Rapids Gazette, June 20, 2008, p.1A
- ^ Associated Press, "McCain tours flood-damaged Columbus Junction", Cedar Rapids Gazette, June 20, 2008, p.1B