Results tagged “flooding” from DesMoinesIst

The National Weather Service says that there's a 96% chance that the Raccoon River will go through at least some minor flooding in Des Moines this spring, and an 86% chance that the Des Moines River will do the same. Time to batten down the hatches -- especially if there's any meaningful rain this spring.

An interesting article appearing in the latest edition of Architectural Record documents the damage done to several buildings in eastern Iowa that were designed by prominent architects. They include a Cedar Rapids bank designed by Louis Sullivan and a house by Frank Lloyd Wright that sits in Charles City. A campaign to salvage the Wright-designed home is already underway.

For an up-close view of the floodwaters as they hit Des Moines a week ago, check out these excellent amateur shots of the city, right in the thick of it.

Obviously, the flooding and evacuations in Des Moines have been bad news, but judging from the photos, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City appear to have gotten it much worse. Iowa City is in far worse shape than in 1993, which at the time was thought to be the worst of all possible scenarios. Eastern Iowa has been losing power plants (in Iowa City and in Vinton), and even though the floodwaters are falling around Iowa's second city, drinking-water supplies are at risk. Des Moines, by comparison, has had some levee breaches and localized flooding, but the overall effects seem to be more limited than in I-380 corridor.

Those wishing to help from out of town ought to consult the Des Moines-area Red Cross and United Way.