Natalia Welzenbach-Marcu | February 27th, 2019

Cedar Rapids could be up for some intense flooding this spring, with the National Weather Service predicting that the Cedar River is about three times more likely than usual to overflow.

This does not come completely as a surprise–after Iowa’s initially mild start to the winter season, snow has been falling in droves, and it’s accumulated fast, causing numerous issues for farmers and drivers alike.

As spring draws nearer, new threats begin to emerge: melting snow.

Cedar Rapids has had over 40 inches of snow this season, twice the average yearly amount. As that snow begins to melt, it will steadily increase the levels of the Cedar River.

With this potential issue looming, projects are being planned and constructed to protect against the potentially devastating waters. A flood wall, a levee and a pump station are all on deck to help control future flood damage before too much infrastructure is lost.

The city still remembers its costly flood from 2008, which was, at the time, the sixth costliest FEMA declaration (a government fund set up to assist in the aftermath of natural disasters). Though the river rose over ten years ago, the effects of that flood are still present in the minds of Cedar Rapids residents, and preparation for this spring is the key to avoiding another disaster.