The situation in eastern Iowa is reaching crisis stage. Flood levels are in the 500 year flood zone and the rivers have not yet crested. Officials in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, and Iowa City have issued mandatory evacuation orders in portions of their cities and more are probably around the corner. The Iowa River will crest early next week at stages much higher than the historic floods of 1993. Things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.
Links and other info on the flip.
I offer these latest stories without comment, but I encourage you to read the stories and check out the photo galleries.
Iowa City, Coralville evacuations; 1st Ave/Hwy 6 area closed
A Steady Destructive Creep
Iowa DOT to close I80 in Cedar County Friday
Animal shelter moves pets to higher ground
Railroad Bridge Spanning Cedar River Collapses
Power out to thousands in downtown Cedar Rapids
City of Hills to be completely flooded
Eastern Iowa Internet service to be lost soon
What can you do to help? Donate to the Red Cross. If you're close, grab a shovel and some gloves and fill some sandbags.
Update: Someone sent me the link to this
aerial photo slideshow. It's worth a visit.