Neighborhood pride shines in blue lights, four years after the flood

The flood displaced thousands of people after the Cedar River reached a record level on this week, four years ago.

Many people along Ellis Boulevard NW found themselves homeless as feet of water surged into their homes. Now, most families are finished rebuilding.

Driving around during the day, people probably don't notice anything out of the ordinary in the quiet northwest Cedar Rapids neighborhood along the river. At night, however, it's a different story.

There's one shining reason this neighborhood is unique. It glows blue. Many houses have blue porch lights and blue lamp lights.

"I've gotten so used to them I haven't looked anymore. But they're still one there -- four, five that are here on all the time,” said flood victim Larry Kelley.

Kelley started the trend without realizing it. He was among the first to return home to begin repairs after flood waters inundated the neighborhood.

"It was about two feet from the peak,” Kelley said as he pointed to his garage by the river.

His blue Christmas lights were still on the porch when he got back, and the other neighbors noticed.

"Pretty soon everybody that came back was putting in blue lights,” Kelley said.

Now, the lights shine just as brightly as they did four years ago.

"They'll never forget the devastation they went through,” said Randy Thompson.

Thompson's mom has had a blue porch light on her Ellis Boulevard home, like everyone else.

“(It's) to state they survived and they made it and they are still here,” Thompson said.

"I think everyone just kind of latched onto it, as 'we beat the river, we're back,'” Kelley said.

After flipping on the blue light for years, people in the northwest neighborhood have no plans on turning them off any time soon.

"Ours will be here as long as we're here,” Kelley said.

It's a small sign of unity in a neighborhood that was once torn apart by a flood.