As of 7pm Sunday, the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids had reached 14 feet, considered a "moderate flood stage." It is expected to crest at 23 feet at about 7am Tuesday, and will be the city's second-highest river level and the highest since the historic 2008 flood.
The Quaker Oats plant that towers over the east bank of the river was closed at 7pm Sunday. A spokesperson said only emergency staff would be in the building until further notice.
The city's public schools will be closed through at least Wednesday. The U.S. District Court and the federal bankruptcy courts will be closed at least Monday and Tuesday.
Sunday morning, Cedar Rapids’ mayor says the city and its residents have been working hard to prepare for flooding along the Cedar River, and says the city has “one more day” to finish that work.
City officials said all downtown bridges across the river were now closed, except for I-380, although many ramps from the highway into city neighborhoods are closed.
More information on Cedar Rapids' flood preparations here.
People have been piling sandbags in front of homes and businesses in the areas that will be affected by the flood, and the city has erected barriers to provide extra protection from the rising waters.
The city continues to make sandbagging supplies available at two locations in the city: The former K-Mart location on 16th Av SW and Hawkeye Downs on 6th St SW.
Residents of about 5,000 homes were urged to evacuate by 8pm Sunday, and plan on staying out of their homes for up to a week. Fire Chief Mark English this morning urged people not to “risk their lives by staying too late.” City leaders say people who remain in their homes rather than evacuate could endanger emergency workers if they need to be rescued from their homes once the flooding starts.
Mayor Ron Corbett congratulated people who have spent the last three days preparing for the flood.
“We’ve taken care of our possessions and pets,” he said. “Now we need you to take care of yourselves.”
Police Chief Wayne Jerman says 300-400 members of the Iowa National Guard, as well as 60 law enforcement officers from elsewhere in the state, will be assisting Cedar Rapids officers over the next week. Jerman says his entire department is mobilized for work related to the flood.
Upriver, the Cedar River has crested in both Cedar Falls and Waterloo. The crests in both cities was ten feet above flood stage, and officials say it could be at least Thursday before water levels drop below flood stage again.
Cedar Falls officials say they are now in "flood recovery" mode, and will begin inspecting buildings that took on water on Monday. The city is asking people to stay out of North Cedar Falls unless they are a resident of the area, or helping a resident with cleanup. The city says permits will be needed for repair work, although permit fees will be suspended for flood-damaged properties.