One Of The Worst Disasters In U.S. History Happened Right Here In Iowa

The winter of 2007-2008 was particularly severe, with heavy snow. Heavy rains started during the last week of April, and in May of 2008, one of the largest tornado outbreak sequences on record in Iowa brought huge amounts of rain. The governor indicated that this massive Iowa flood, which affected most of the state, was the tenth worst disaster in U.S. history.

The Iowa National Guard did a great deal to help with sandbagging efforts.

This project was part of a 7-foot levee built to protect the Ottumwa power sub-station.

The Iowa counties colored orange were designated by the president as disaster areas.

On June 14, Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids began the evacuation process. It took about eight hours to get everyone out of the hospital and to safety.

Waverly was flooded after the Cedar River crested. More than 2,500 were evacuated.

The city of Waverly eventually bought out 69 flood-ruined homes. In 2011, the town completed construction of their $4.3 million inflatable dam.

Two weeks after the Iowa River flooded the town of Oakville, the water was still high.

Oakville is the last town near the Iowa River right before it joins up with the Mississippi River. Their levee broke on June 14 and the National Guard conducted an emergency evacuation of the town.

The University of Iowa School of Art and Art History art building and west art building were devastated by flood waters.

At least 20 buildings on campus were flooded. In Johnson County, 6 million sandbags were filled. It's a national record.

On June 15, 2008, the Coralville Dam and Lake spillway were fully opened.

The DOT closed Coralville's US Highway 6 access to Iowa City in downtown Coralville and at the intersection of Iowa Highway 1 and Highway 6.

The Des Moines River rose fast and officials recommended evacuation.

The river reached 31.57 feet; just inches from breaking the 1993 flood record.

Flood waters reached toward Interstate 80 in June of 2008.

The Cedar River overtook the town of Cedar Rapids.

This neighborhood near 4th Street and 12 Avenue in Cedar Rapids was just one of the many areas invaded by flood waters.

Where were you during the great flood of 2008?