Cedar Rapids Remains a City Under Water

PlusCedar Rapids Remains a City Under WaterCedar Rapids Remains a City Under WaterThe Associated PressThe view from above says it all, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is drenched and it may be weeks or months until it dries out completely. (June 14)THE WATER MAY BE ON IT'S WAY DOWN BUT THE SIGHT OF CEDAR RAPIDS FROM THE AIR IS STILL BREATHTAKING AND OVERWHELMING..IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY 20,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE AREA... MORE THAN 400 CITY BLOCKS ARE STILL UNDERWATER AFTER THE CEDAR RIVER CRESTED FRIDAY AT 32 FEET, 12 FEET HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS RECORD..PRELIMINARY DAMAGES ARE SET AT 737 MILLION DOLLARS FOR CEDAR RAPIDS ALONE, AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN FLOODED ACROSS THE STATE..IN DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS MASSIVE HIGH RISE BUILDINGS ARE STILL BURIED UNDERWATER, THEIR BASEMENTS AND FIRST FLOORS DESTROYED.. THE CITIES INFRASTRUCTURE BADLY DAMAGED AS WELL, THIS RAILROAD BRIDGE NOW LIES TWISTED AND BROKEN ACROSS THE RIVER, ANOTHER FACING INCREDIBLE STRESS AS THE WATER AND DOZENS OF HOUSEBOATS THAT BROKE FREE FROM UPRIVER CRASH INTO IT....NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG THE RIVERBANK THAT TYPICALLY DON'T FLOOD ARE ALSO COVERED WITH ONLY ROOFTOPS SHOWING.. SOME SAY IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE HURRICANE KATRINA BUT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. THERE ARE NO PEOPLE HERE.. THE WATER ROSE SLOWLY OVER SEVERAL DAYS, AND ALMOST EVERYONE HAD TIME TO PLAN AN ESCAPE... FIREFIGHTERS STILL RESCUED SOME STRAGGLERS, BUT IT WASN'T THE MASSIVE EFFORT OF KATRINA.. THAT'S A GOOD THING TOO, BECAUSE THIS IS THE CEDAR RAPIDS FIRE DEPARTMENT...WHILE THE WATER IS RECEDING EXPERTS SAY IT WILL BE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE WATER IS BELOW FLOOD STAGE... AND IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE THE ENTIRE AREA IS CLEANED UP, YEARS BEFORE IT'S ALL REBUILT.RICH MATTHEWS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OVER CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA...