Stop building in the flood plains

We build in the flood plain because the land is perceived as cheap, but is it? Recently, Cedar Rapids city services including the central fire department, police station, disaster preparedness services, City Hall and public library were all caught in the 2008 flood. Hancher Auditorium, The University of Iowa Museum of Art in Iowa City and now CY Stevens Auditorium, Hilton Auditorium and the Jack Trice football stadium in Ames have all been flooded. Much of the cost of repairing all of these facilities and the supporting roads, water supply systems, electrical systems and parking facilities will be born by the taxpayers.

When one politician was asked why we keep building in the flood plain, he said, “We won't be here when the next flood happens.” He may not be here, but our children and grandchildren will be. We need to move public facilities to high ground and save future generations from paying for rebuilding flood damage property. We need to make the flood plain areas into park land, which takes little effort and expense to put back after they flood.

We need to be responsible and stop building in the flood plains. The Army Corps of Engineers turned down the Cedar Rapids plan for flood walls. We are moving our City Hall back to May's Island and the police department is still located along the river. What is protecting downtown Cedar Rapids and neighborhoods from flooding? How much more will we have to spend replacing these facilities?

Janet Kvach

Hiawatha