Great Flood of 2008
Like watching a slow-motion train wreck, in June
the Iowa River slowly transformed itself from a sleepy little stream into a
raging torrent, washing away everything in its path. After weeks
of above-average rainfall, the Coralville Reservoir went over the spillway
(for only the second time, ever) and the Army Corps of Engineers lost
control of the river -- after which it simply went everywhere. With
flows gradually increasing to 44,000 cubic feet per second (in the '93 flood
it hit 28,000 cfps), the city went from mildly concerned to worried to
alarmed, in just 72 hours.
Sand-bagging efforts began on Riverside Drive
(north of the hotel) in earnest on Thursday, June 12th, but all was for
naught -- by the next morning the river had overwhelmed every business from
Hwy 1 & Hwy 6 north to the University campus. Knowing that we
were above the 500 year flood-plain -- but warned that things could get much
worse, very quickly -- we began sand bagging at the inn on Friday,
June 13th, with the help of an army of volunteers. Within hours we had
built a wall entirely around the Tower Building, with enough sand bags left
over for another course, if needed.
As I'm writing this we are still several days
from the predicted crest of the flood, but things are looking up.
We're high and dry, the skies are sunny and the winds are light, and it
looks like the predicted high-water mark won't be reached.
Sadly, we lost the American Barnstormers Tour which was scheduled for this
weekend, leaving us completely empty -- but we're just thankful that we're
all safe. Watch for updates...
Here are some pix from
Thursday, June
12th, as the flood began:
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Water coming up at boat launch near the Inn
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Picnic table under water at boat launch...
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Mary near the railroad bridge by Dairy Queen
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Sand bagging another business on Riverside Drive...
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Water bubbling up next to the walk (this was 3 feet under 12 hours later)
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The river is about to go over the banks
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Rising water on River Walk
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Bec & Jay at the river walk
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Becca with closed river walk
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Becca by Dairy Queen
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It's coming up!
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Dairy Queen thought they were ready, but 12 hours later they were under water
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They were doing a bang-up business, right before the flood
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Hills Bank sand-bagged, 12 hours before going completely under water
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This is normally 15 feet above the river!
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Sand bagging Dairy Queen
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Sand bagging on Gilbert Street
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This was taken on the Coralville Strip the day before the railroad berm failed; this was 5' deep the next day
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Friday, June 13th -- we begin to
sand-bag the hotel...
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The sand arrives -- the city ran out for a time
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Backing up...
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Now we had sand -- but no bags! Those came later...
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An army of volunteers built a wall all around the Tower Building
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Back-breaking labor made easier with many helpers
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Filling sand bags is slow work
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Some of the volunteers had been at this for two days
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Hwy 1 & Hwy 6, just north of us, starts to flood
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Sand-bagging by the pool...
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Such a nice day to be sand-bagging!
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Our "Flintstone Gutter Extension"
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Working the wheel barrow...
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That's a lot of sand bags!
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Will it hold?
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Becca takes a break!
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Burlington Street bridge starting to flood
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El Rancheros under water
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Fin & Feather sand-bagged, too
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Moving our plane to Washington, this is a shot of Hills, IA, flooded
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John & Brad Yeomans helped out!
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Keeping at it
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Village Inn, flooding
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Saturday Morning, June 14th -- we wait for the
river to crest...
Click
here to view a video of the flooded corner of Hwy 1 & Hwy 6, just north
of the inn.
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The Barnstormers Breakfast -- cancelled due to flooding
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Hwy 1 & Hwy 6, closed to the North and East, continues to flood
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Looking north...about 1 block from the Inn
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Looking South on Riverside, 1 block south of the inn
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Another shot looking toward the airport...
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The tower building -- sand-bagged.
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Arbee's Drive Thru, 1 block from the inn...
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The whole strip mall is sandbagged
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We've got extras...
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Saturday Afternoon, June
14th update...
Click
here to
view a new video of the flooded Hwy 1 & Hwy 6 intersection...the water is
rising
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Becca looking North on Riverside Drive
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Becca with United Hangar in background
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Fish on Riverside Drive!
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Dump truck driving down flooded Riverside Drive
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The only vehicles that could still get down Riverside...
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Dump truck coming through the water...
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El Ranchero's is dry -- but cut off
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Alexis Park Inn & Suites from flooded Riverside Drive
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Another view of the hotel, looking North on Riverside from the airport
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Looking East down Hwy 6
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Looking Northeast down Hwy 6
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Looking North on Riverside Dr
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Plane landing over flooded Riverside Drive
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Pickup truck dares the flood waters
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The United Hangar witnesses one last disaster
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It was supposed to be full of Barnstormer aircraft this weekend...
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...but instead it awaits demolition
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Volunteers across from the hotel still making sand bags
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Click here to
go to June 15th
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