Check this out -- photos, yesterday & today

[CornField]

Yesterday:


Today:


More pictures (and soon video as well) on http://www.essentialestrogen.com

Had quite a scare today. Walked through the skywalk system downtown to the 1st Street Parking ramp that overlooks the Cedar River. The river was rushing underneath and all down 1st Street below. (It's up to the first floor of the Alliant building.) You could literally feel the water rushing against the parking ramp. I quickly took the photos and video and was ready to leave, but someone had locked the door to the skywalk. I (and about 8-10 others) were stuck on the parking ramp for several minutes -- the longest minutes I think I've ever experienced.

Downtown Cedar Rapids is not a good place to be. Since I have to go for my job, I hope everyone will just look at my and other press photos instead of going out themselves.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Wow. Just incredible.

I have been to CR many times and have never seen anything like that up there. Stay safe and hang in there. It'll stop someday. I guess.

[Debi]

2. Thanks Cornfield - that's just crazy!

Are you still doing okay back home?

[CornField]

3. Basement is flooded

If that's the worst I have to deal with, I'll gladly take it.

[Debi]

4. The water in our basement created an unplanned cleaning day here

hope you can get it all cleared up soon enough.

I'm just amazed at all the water everywhere.

How do we even re-start our lives? Going to the store, putting gas in the car all seems so odd right now. It now seems normal to be dirty and wet and hauling garbage somewhere.

d.

[progressoid]

5. Wow.

Just Wow.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Cornfield....

This is just so unimaginable!

I grew up in Cedar Rapids. I look at the pictures and I absolutely cannot believe what I am seeing.

Six feet of water in downtown CR! The pictures of that collapsed railway bridge are like something
out of a bad movie.

Cornfield, do you live near downtown? Is most of the major flooding confined to the downtown
and surrounding areas? Or are there other rivers and streams in the CR area that are causing
problems?

It sounds like the entire city is completely on lockdown--with power and water limits imposed.

Des Moines is not like that this year. However, in 1993 we were. We had no water for nearly
two weeks in '93. It sounds like CR this year is similar to DSM in '08.

How scary in the parking garage! I can't believe you were up in the walkway--and looking down
at all of that water rush by. That must have been scary.

I'm sorry your basement flooded...I hope you have no damage, and that you and everyone you know
is safe.

Please keep us posted!

[CornField]

7. We're not close to the flooding

I actually live in Marion -- about 7 blocks uphill from Indian Creek (which began its own flooding today). As for my basement, it's a pit on the best of days -- unfinished, cement floor, etc. The worst the water can do down there is ruin my washer and dryer.

There are other points in the city that are flooding, but it's not widespread. For instance, there are some problems off Center Point Road, and also on 10th St in Marion (by the Linn-Mar campus).

When I was downtown earlier today, the flood waters were just above 3rd St. SE -- the pictures on the news now show it a block further up to 4th St SE (the railroad tracks & trail).

It looks really bad right now, but I think the worst is yet to come. People are impatient now with only the I-380 bridge left for crossing the river. Imagine how they are going to be acting next Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, etc. when the waters are going down, but they can't re-open the bridges because they have to be inspected.

[CoffeeCat]

8. I'm glad to hear that you are...

...doing ok--except for the bad stuff going on in your basement. That's good that you are
far away from the worst of the flooding.

I'm listening to KCRG right now, and it sounds like they are evacuating people and patients from Mercy
Hospital. Wow, Mercy is about 8 blocks from the river...so those waters must be very high. Unbelievable.

I think you are right, that things may get worse. The river levels will rise even further, due to the
rains that were just dumped on the CR area.

Loads of positive thoughts and prayers coming your way--from my area in Des Moines.

[CoffeeCat]

9. More info on Mercy Hospital...

They're evacuating all patients from Mercy.

This information comes from Mercy Hospital, via KCRG News.