UI crews practice for an epic flood

On a dry asphalt parking lot under the warm March sun, University of Iowa crews Tuesday practiced for an epic flood.

With the Iowa River miles away, the UI workers completed a flood preparation test run behind the Studio Arts building, constructing a wall of HESCO barriers and filling them with sand.

The devastating June 2008 flood left UI officials realizing they can never be too prepared.

“This is anticipating and preparing,” Dan Heater, director of building and landscape services in UI Facilities Management, said. “A lot of things we're looking at today are part of the learning curve.”

The UI used HESCO barriers in the 2008 flood and were happy with them. But past practices with the barriers have relied on 100 year flood levels. Crews on Tuesday wanted a test run with 500 year flood levels, to see if they could stack the barriers up to 12 feet high.

“We're practicing for a potentially epic flood event,” Heater said.

Dennis Barkemeyer, HESCO technical representative, was on hand to offer tips.

“It's important that you have your entire base set up before you begin filling,” he told the crews.

HESCOs are temporary dikes or barriers made of a collapsible wire mesh container and heavy duty fabric liner that can be filled with sand by a front-loader. They can be linked or stacked.

UI officials are stockpiling supplies - sand, sandbags, pumps and barriers - for the possibility of spring flooding.

The UI has about 15,000 linear feet of HESCO barriers - about $450,000 worth - stored in three locations. Also on hand: about $100,000 worth of sandbags.

Officials this week sent an e-mail to students, notifying them of procedures should Mayflower Residence Hall on North Dubuque Street need to be evacuated. That is a slim possibility, given the spring outlook, but officials wanted Mayflower residents to know the drill in advance, Heater said.

The university is still recovering from the 2008 flood that caused an estimated $743 million in campus damage.