Iowa Independent » Photos http://iowaindependent.com Iowa politics, news, and commentary Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:51:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Cedar Rapids flood photos: Then and now http://iowaindependent.com/16041/cedar-rapids-flood-photos-then-and-now http://iowaindependent.com/16041/cedar-rapids-flood-photos-then-and-now#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:11:41 +0000 Lynda Waddington http://iowaindependent.com/?p=16041 A year ago, Iowa’s second-largest city was devoured by flood waters, claiming 10-square miles of Cedar Rapids, an area that included several residential neighborhoods as well as the downtown and cultural districts. While no individuals lost their lives during the floods, the economic damage remains staggering. Progress has been made in Cedar Rapids during the past year, but the truth is that much remains to be done.

Veterans Memorial Coliseum in downtown Cedar Rapids is one of the citys most memorable buildings. It stands on Mays Island in the middle of the Cedar River, connected to the banks by the 2nd Avenue Bridge.

June 12, 2008 -- Veterans Memorial Coliseum in downtown Cedar Rapids is one of the city's most notable buildings. It stands on Mays Island in the middle of the Cedar River, connected to the banks by the 2nd Avenue Bridge. All of the facilities on Mays Island were decimated by the flood.

June 11, 2009 -- The building remains vacant and its future uncertain, despite numerous visits from state and federal officials. The bridge itself is being repaired and remains open.

June 11, 2009 — The building remains vacant and its future uncertain, despite numerous visits from state and federal officials. The bridge itself is being repaired and continues to carry traffic across the river.

June 12, 2008 -- The Cedar River, not yet at its crest, poured across the 2nd Avenue Bridge in downtown Cedar Rapids.

June 12, 2008 — The Cedar River, not yet at its crest, poured across the 2nd Avenue Bridge in downtown Cedar Rapids.

June 11, 2009 -- The waters now flow below the bridge, but repairs remain underway.

June 11, 2009 — The waters now flow beneath the bridge and repairs continue.

June 12, 2008 -- Looking west on 3rd Avenue SE in downtown Cedar Rapids. At this point the river had traveled roughly four city blocks into the downtown area. This photo was taken the day before the river crested.

June 12, 2008 — Looking west on 3rd Avenue SE in downtown Cedar Rapids. At this point the river had traveled roughly four city blocks into the downtown area. This photo was taken the day before the river crested.

June 11, 2009 -- Not all of downtown has reopened, and many businesses -- especially those on the street level -- continue to repair and remodel their facilities. It isn't unusual to see dumpsters at street level, fed by large orange or yellow debris pipes from the upper floors of buildings.

June 11, 2009 -- Not all of downtown has reopened, and many businesses — especially those on the street level — continue to repair and remodel their facilities. It isn't unusual to see dumpsters at on downtown streets, fed by large orange or yellow debris pipes from the upper floors of buildings.

June 12, 2008 -- The Linn County Courthouse and the 3rd Avenue Bridge were swallowed by the Cedar River.

June 12, 2008 -- The Linn County Courthouse and the 3rd Avenue Bridge were swallowed by the Cedar River.

June 11, 2009 -- The 3rd Avenue bridge has also undergone repairs, but is open to traffic. The courthouse reopened all but the first floor in September 2008.

June 11, 2009 -- The 3rd Avenue bridge has also undergone repairs and is open to traffic. The courthouse reopened all but the first floor in September 2008.

June 11, 2008 -- A riverfront recreation area on the west bank of the Cedar River filled quickly with flood water.

June 11, 2008 — A riverfront recreation area on the west bank of the Cedar River filled quickly with flood water.

June 11, 2009 -- Although the flood waters stripped away most things that weren't bolted down (along with some that were), the downtown riverfront recreation/relaxation areas have been restored and are open to the public.

June 11, 2009 — Although the flood waters stripped away most things that weren't bolted down — along with some that were — the downtown riverfront parks and recreation areas have been restored and are open to the public.

June 15, 2008 -- When the flood waters receded, business owners and residents were left with a lot of muck and a lot of debris.

June 15, 2008 — When the flood waters receded, business owners and residents were left with a lot of muck and debris to clear.

June 11, 2009 -- No one in the immediate area knew what happened to the tree that formerly stood 2nd Street SE.

June 11, 2009 — No one in the immediate area could say what happened to the tree that formerly stood at this location on 2nd Street SE.

June 15, 2008 -- One of the city’s trademark statues, “Between Friends,” a work created by Ann Royer and dedicated in November 1992, lies humiliated and broken on the sidewalk next to its base.

June 15, 2008 — One of the city’s landmark sculptures, “Between Friends,” a work created by Ann Royer and dedicated in November 1992, lies humiliated on the sidewalk next to its base.

June 11, 2009 -- The statue has been remounted in its original location, even while rebuilding continues in the buildings surrounding it.

June 11, 2009 — The statue has been remounted at its original location, while renovations continue on surrounding buildings.

November 2008 -- Nearly six months after the flood one of the greatest continued sorrows in Cedar Rapids was the number of residential properties that remained in limbo.

November 27, 2008 — Nearly six months after the flood, one of the greatest continued sorrows in Cedar Rapids was the number of damaged residential properties whose futures were uncertain.

June 11, 2008 -- The sorrow of the residential properties continues. Several properties continue face uncertain futures as the city plans future green space and state agencies develop flood prevention measures.

June 11, 2008 — The sorrow in residential neighborhoods continue. A year later, several properties still face uncertain futures as the city plans future green space and state agencies develop new flood control measures.

]]> http://iowaindependent.com/16041/cedar-rapids-flood-photos-then-and-now/feed 4 Photos: Flags among flood damage in Cedar Rapids http://iowaindependent.com/8888/photos-flags-among-flood-damage-in-cedar-rapids http://iowaindependent.com/8888/photos-flags-among-flood-damage-in-cedar-rapids#comments Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:59:33 +0000 Lynda Waddington http://iowaindependent.com/?p=8888 Nearly six months has passed since I stood on the top of the 1st Street Parkade in downtown Cedar Rapids, feeling the fury of the Cedar River as it battered the concrete pillars of the structure below, and snapped photographs of the flood that surrounded me. To be honest, there are days now when I can almost forget the damage that has happened in Cedar Rapids, Linn County and in other parts of Iowa — almost.

Every week since the river has receded, I’ve made a journey into the parts of Cedar Rapids that were damaged. At first I went into the flood zone to help friends as they mucked out basements and created piles of ruined furniture and other debris on their curbs. As the same friends have graduated to specialized contractors for their rebuilding, my services of general labor are needed less and less.

Saturday morning, after covering Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s speech at a breakfast, I drove into the flooded areas in hopes of catching the visiting dignitaries touring the damage. I was not successful in that goal, but I decided that I would walk a few neighborhoods and take photographs for a flood recovery update.

I wasn’t looking for any particular shots — for instance, I wasn’t on the lookout for crews of workers, or homeowners closing up homes for the winter. It wasn’t until I returned home and downloaded the pictures that I saw something I had not noticed before: American flags. In nearly every photograph I took, even in the deepest areas of flood damage, property owners had displayed a flag.

I don’t know the reasoning the owners had for placing these flags, and I don’t wish to speculate on their behalf. As I worked with the pictures — those of flags on porches, those with flags peeking through grimy windows, and those with barely visible flags on far river banks — I gravitated between incredible sadness and overwhelming pride. Some of the flags, so badly beaten and torn by the elements, bring to mind the long-forgotten images of soldiers on a battlefield, individuals steps away from their own demise. Others seem to signal a blunt defiance of circumstance — a shout amid an otherwise eerily quiet neighborhood that if such a thing as this had to happen, then thank God it happened in a country like America.

The pictures also reminded me of a story I did the day many residents were allowed back into their homes. That report also featured a photograph of an American flag, proudly flying above piles of discarded and ruined debris.

Dan Lacey, a home owner in the flood affected area, points to the pile of ruined furniture, appliances, DVDs and other assorted household belongings that now rest on the curb in front of his home.

“Welcome to our garage sale,” he jokes. “Today, everything is half price!”

As he and a friend take a break from clean up, he tells the story of the soiled American flag that flies from his porch.

“Dirty or not, that’s where it needs to be,” he said. “I took it down when we had to evacuate, but putting that flag out was the first thing I did when we were able to get back in here.”

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