Flood Forces 20,000 Cedar Rapids Residents To Flee

Today is a sunny day in Iowa City/Coralville, but it doesn't matter, because the waters continue to rise, with more bridges to close here. The levee has broken in Des Moines, with devestating effect, and Cedar Rapids continues to be inundated with water.

The top story on Yahoo News concerns Cedar Rapids, and at least 20,000 people who have been forced out of their homes:

Days after it rose out of its banks on its way to record flooding in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar River has forced at least 20,000 people from their homes, officials said Saturday.

Officials guess it will be four days before the Cedar River drops enough for workers to even begin pumping out water that has submerged more than 400 blocks, threatened the city's drinking supply and forced the evacuation of a downtown hospital.

"We're estimating at least a couple of weeks before the flood levels get down right around flood stage and below," said Dustin Hinrichs of the Linn County emergency operations center.

The Cedar River crested Friday night at nearly 32 feet, 12 feet higher than the old record set in 1929.

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