Torrential overnight rains cause significant flooding across Eastern Iowa

Massive overnight rain totals have left residents across Eastern Iowa dealing with flash flood damage, with additional heavy rain in the forecast today.

The torrential rains, which hit areas around Highway 20 around 9 p.m. Sunday and areas around Cedar Rapids around 11:30 p.m., caused massive sewer backups and washed out several area roads.

Highway 1 in Linn County near Washington Avenue will remain closed due to flash flood damage. Traffic is being detoured from Highway 151 to Highway 13 south to Highway 30 and back east to Mount Vernon, the Linn County Sheriff's Office reports.

The emergency department of Mercy Medical Center remains closed this morning as staff work to clean up from water which came in through the Eighth Avenue entrance, hospital officials said in a news release. Those needing emergency services are being diverted to St. Luke's, though Mercy is hoping to reopen it's emergency department as soon as possible today.

A roof drain at the hospital also failed, causing damage to ceiling tiles in the fifth floor in patient tower, with crews already making repairs.

'All patients from this floor were quickly and safely relocated to other departments within the tower,” Mercy Medical Center spokesman Steve Drake said in a release. All other areas of the hospital are operating normally.

Cedar Rapids police and fire crews reported several roads washed away in the area. The crews spent the night rescuing stranded motorists and trying to clear the roads. Numerous parked cars were flooded and washed into the road or carried into yards by floodwater.

'Several roadways have been washed away and are closed with barricades until repairs can be made,” Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Beulow said in a statement. 'Several drivers were caught in the flash flooding and some of those vehicles have not been cleared from the roadway.”

Police are urging caution this morning because there are likely still unreported problems.

The torrential rains sent area rivers and streams - already high from recent rains - up significantly. Observed water levels in the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids rose more than two feet in two hours last night. Click here to look at the latest river estimates.

Widespread rain totals from last night's storms totaled two to six inches. There is a threat for additional thunderstorms with heavy rain today.