15th Anniversary of the 2008 Floods

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After lobbying for years, Cedar Rapids has secured $56.4 million in federal funding to replace the Eighth Avenue Bridge — a key segment of the city’s permanent flood control system that has long been awaiting funding.

Federal and city of Cedar Rapids officials celebrated the completion of floodgate at 12th Avenue SE as a “milestone” in efforts to fortify the city against rising Cedar River waters as part of its approximately $750 million permanent flood protection system.

For the past two years, Linn County has been training a volunteer Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT. The volunteers will have the skills needed for the organization and operation of an emergency response to disasters.

The city of Cedar Rapids is trying again to seek a massive grant — $56.4 million — from the federal government to reconstruct the Eighth Avenue “Arc of Justice” Bridge over the Cedar River.

Highlights of the flood control system along the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids built out after the 2008 flood

Although the flood wiped out much of the neighborhood, it’s on the cusp of recovery with permanent flood protection on the horizon. Investments from residents and developers are slowly but surely bringing it back to life.

The cities of Iowa City and Coralville, along with the University of Iowa, worked on various flood control projects to protect the communities from future disasters while also embracing the Iowa River. Here’s how they did it.

Learn about the different types of infrastructure built into the massive network and how the city is working with the community to build a system that will fortify Cedar Rapids against future flooding.

Cedar Rapids, part of three watershed management authorities, gives tens of thousands of dollars annually toward flood mitigation efforts.

Ahead of the 15-year anniversary of the historic 2008 flood, Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, introduced a bipartisan bill to improve flood and drought mitigation through existing federal conservation programs.

Time has passed quickly, but it will soon be the 15th anniversary of the flood that changed Cedar Rapids and other parts of Eastern Iowa forever.

Residents are pushing back as more homes were referred Tuesday to a Linn County panel to initiate eminent domain proceedings as the city of Cedar Rapids looks to finalize home acquisitions for flood control in the Northwest Neighborhood.

Cedar Rapids officials at looking at the impacts of high inflation and construction costs on the permanent flood control. The system is estimated to cost $750 million, but that figure has likely grown, so the city’s assessing the scope to ensure projects planned can be done within budget.

As Cedar Rapids looks to acquire over 20 homes in the Time Check area for flood control system construction, a homeowner has appealed the city’s acquisition. The levee the city’s looking to build is still in the design phase.