Spring 2013 Flood of Indian Creek Update

Nearby Indian Creek swelled this week from over 4 inches of rain in two days. On Thursday as the creek spilled out of its bank partially filling a greenway park, the city of Cedar Rapids deployed inflatable tiger dams to help prevent residential flooding. Fortunately the early afternoon crest of the swollen creek did not reach the road this time.

By Friday afternoon crews deflated the dams and travel was allowed to use the streets again. Today the tiger dams and related straps, tubes and sandbags were still evident. With rain in the forecast for the next several days, the city can take its time in packing these preventative materials away.

Tiger Dams Installed in Cedar Rapids for 2013 Spring Flood of Indian Creek

Orange tube Tiger Dams are being installed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this morning. Along Indian Creek the dams are being placed, filled with water and tied down to prevent rising waters damaging local homes.

Dams were installed at this very location in 2009 but were ineffective due to their installation at the time.

We received over 4 inches of rain in two and a half days. The drought is over but at the expense of rising water and flooding rivers and streams. 

City crews have learned best practices since the 2009 flood.

While this is the second time tiger dams have been deployed at this site, the amount of effort for workers and equipment seem enormous. Another alternative to stop this flooding is being debated today.  

The Cedar Rapids city council is expected to discuss the flooding issue at this morning's meeting. Back on the agenda is the construction of a berm along Cottage Grove Parkway (parallel and to the right of the road above.) Flood money is already approved according to Councilwoman Ann Poe (who was on the scene this morning) but the go-ahead seems to be at the council level and with the Iowa DNR.

Tiger Dams Fail on Indian Creek - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

After 7.07 inches of rain fell in a 36-hour period, 42N country's Indian Creek flooded southeast side neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This event occurred only 14 months after the historic 2008 flood of the Cedar River and Indian Creek in Cedar Rapids. Today's flash flood was significant for a couple of reasons. For the first time the city deployed Tiger Dams, a removable bladder-like series of tubes that fill with water, tether together and stack to form a barrier. These dams were assembled the day before as part of a training exercise (see video). The other reason this flood was significant was that the muddy colored waters crept a bit closer to the 42N command center than in years' previous.

Today's rainfall sent the creek rising much faster and higher than anticipated. The swollen creek circumvented the 200 feet run of the temporary dam and began to back fill behind the structure. City crews raced to the scene and positioned sandbags in an attempt to shore up the Tiger Dams. Due to several factors (water pressure, positioning, join strength, current velocity, debris and who knows what), the Tiger Dams failed around 7:30 pm. Upon their collapse water was sent up the streets and into homes. The crew quickly approached the sewer lines and began pumping to relieve the water pressure. When the first location failed the crew went a half block up the street to repeat the pressure fix. This time their actions were successful. Waters began to slowly recede around 9:10 pm and by morning the creek was near its banks again.

Local ABC-TV affiliate KCRG (Channel 9) arrived around 8 pm and interviewed the residents about the Tiger Dams' effectiveness. Station reporter and producer Alyson Hunt conducted the interview. Her report was actually the lead story for the 10 pm news. Know that.