CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Ten years after the September 2016 flood, Cedar Rapids leaders say the costly disaster continues to shape how the city plans and pays for flood protection — and why they are still pushing to finish the flood control system.
When the Cedar River crested at nearly 22 feet in September 2016, the city mobilized to protect homes and businesses using temporary barriers and sandbags, followed by cleanup and repairs. City records show Cedar Rapids had paid more than $6 million in flood-related bills by April of the following year, with costs still adding up.
Cedar Rapids City Councilmember Ashley Vanorny, the District 5 representative, said the experience underscored the importance of continuing the city’s long-term flood protection work…