Flash flooding easing around Eastern Iowa, but worries remain

Tuesday's flash flooding in Iowa City rates somewhere short of a once-in-five-years event, said Rick Fosse, the city's public works director.

There was flooding on several streets, including Dubuque Street, Stevens Drive, Dodge Street, Jefferson Street, Iowa Avenue and First, Second and Third avenues, he said.

Water was moving so fast that it pulled off the asphalt overlay on Glendale Road near Seventh Avenue and on the 600 block of Van Buren Street, Fosse said. Crews will be out to repair those streets Wednesday.

The uncommon level of flooding was caused by the city seeing more than two inches of rain in one hour, Fosse said.

“Our pain threshold, if you will, is about one inch an hour,” he said.

He said water accumulation is not a problem in small watersheds because they drain quickly, as opposed to the Iowa River, so the rain forecast for the rest of this week does not necessarily mean there will be more flooding. The saturated ground will create more runoff, however, he said.

Big downpour brings big problems in Kalona

Kalona Fire Chief Steve Yotty said he measured 2.5 inches of rain at his personal gauge in a little more than an hours' time Tuesday morning. That down pour forced the water in a creek on the west side of Kalona out of its banks, spilling into an area centered around A Ave. on the SE side of Kalona.

Water got into a number of homes' basements and even forced a few people to evacuate at the Meadow Brook Mobile Home Park. Yotty says firefighters did help a couple of families in that mobile home park get out of the way of the water but no one was hurt and he said no one was in serious danger at any time.

The water overflowing that creek did fill one basement at 305 A Ave. with about eight feet of muddy water. Firefighters assisted the homeowner by pumping out the basement.

Other nearby neighbors said they also had close calls. Sherry Bryner  who lives in an apartment near the area said she frantically tried to move furniture up off her ground floor. She said the water stopped rising about a half inch from getting inside her apartment.

By early afternoon, the water was falling quickly in Kalona, and fire officials informed residents impacted by the flash flooding they could return to their homes and start cleaning up. Firefighters were also cleaning streets as of mid afternoon.

The Grant Wood chapter of the American Red Cross is planning to open a shelter for residents impacted by the flooding. That shelter, at 511 C Ave., is set to open at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The fire chief said he didn't know if any residents would need that assistance, but he thought it was a good idea to have a shelter available in case more rain brings the high water back.

Propane leak drives Solon residents from homes

Floodwaters from a nearby creek dislodged a propane tank along Morse Road northeast of Iowa City today, causing a propane gas leak that briefly forced area residents from their homes.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, the gas leak was reported at 12:59 p.m. in the area of 5111 Morse Rd. NE in Iowa City, where Rapid Creek had flowed out of its banks and flooded the area. The flooding caused a propane tank to float away from its base, pulling away the gas line.

Residents in the immediate area were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure, but were allowed to return around 3 p.m. after a propane company re-secured the tank and sealed off the leak.

Solon assistant fire chief Scott Wolfe said the homes in the area were checked for propane in their basements, but residents in the area may still smell small amounts of propane. Because propane is a colorless, odorless gas, the gas companies add a chemical called mercaptum.  This is what gives the gas a slight smell, allowing humans to smell the gas.  Propane is heavier than the air, so it will settle in low places such as basements.  Anyone continuing to smell propane is asked to call the Sheriff's Office.

No signs of flooding in Cedar Rapids

Craig Hanson, public works maintenance manager for the city of Cedar Rapids, reports there is no sign that the city's creeks will flash out of their banks and flood.

Early Tuesday afternoon Hanson was out in the city inspecting creeks and detention basins.

All showed “normal conditions,” he said.

As for Indian Creek, specifically, Hanson noted that there was no sign of high water along it in northern Cedar Rapids, including at County Home Road NE, and he added that a rain gauge in the Bowman Woods area showed just under one inch of recent rain.

“Based on these indicators, Indian Creek normally does not have issues unless there is significant additional rain,” Hanson said.

For now, he said the city has no plans to deploy any flood-protection equipment.

The city has had a few storm-related calls and one tree was hit by lightning “so far,” Hanson said.

Flooding information from around Eastern Iowa

• Iowa Avenue at Riverside Drive is under 3 feet of water.
• Melrose Avenue, possibly at Willow Creek, is under 4 feet of water.
• There are reports of cars floating at times on Riverside Drive in Iowa City.
• Reports of water over the road in multiple spots on Center Point Road, near Toddville and Center Point.
• Westgate Drive in Iowa City near Willow Creek Park has water up to car doors.
• Palo Marsh Road near the Pleasant Creek nature area has water running over it.
• Iowa Avenue near the English and Philosophy Building has water on it.
• Northbound lanes of Dubuque St. just south of Foster Rd. is covered in water.
• UI Cambus routes are being affected. Most routes are behind schedule.

Iowa City street closings

Iowa City police said they don't have enough man power to actually close all the streets listed, but do advise staying out of these areas and to avoid standing water, as it isn't safe  to pass through. There have been multiple reports of people stranded in cars. Affected streets include:

• Stevens Drive (near Waterfront Drive)
• Highland Avenue through the intersections of Gilbert Street and Boyrum Street
• Intersection of Bloomington and Johnson streets
• Intersection of Bowery and Gilbert streets
• Mormon Trek Boulevard (flooded in multiple locations, most seriously near the Korean Church and near UI Credit Union)
• South Dubuque Street
• Riverside Drive from Iowa Avenue to Benton Street
• Intersection of Graslon Drive and Estron Street
• Rockyshore Drive through Park Road to the Coralville Strip.

Also, The Crisis Center Food Bank will be closed today due to flash flooding in the immediate vicinity of the organization's location at 1121 Gilbert Court in Iowa City. Volunteers do not need to report for shifts. For assistance, please call the center's 24-Hour Crisis Line at (319) 351-0140.

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Flash flood worries continue

Flood and flash flood warnings have been issued for several Eastern Iowa counties as rains continue to pelt the area.

The main concern is for flash flooding late this morning into the afternoon, KCRG-TV9 First Alert Meteorologist Kaj O'Mara said. Heavy rains of 1 to 2 inches an hour are possible as storms train over each other.

O'Mara said it's very important that if you encounter a flooded roadway, never to drive across it. Also, be advised of creeks and streams jumping their banks later this morning into the afternoon as heavy rains continue.

The area's main rivers will rise, but it's unclear how high at this point.  It'll depend on the final tally of rainfall from today before a forecast for the main rivers can be put together.

Flash flood warnings are out for Linn, Johnson, Iowa, Washington, Benton, Buchanan, Delaware, Davis, Henry, Keokuk, Louisa, Mahaska and Wapello counties until early this evening. Flood warnings are also out for Iowa, Johnson, Washington, Keokuk, Mahaska, Henry and Louisa counties, some running into the weekend.

More information:

• KCRG's weather page
• Severe weather information, including flood warnings
• Radar images