🌧️ We’re river people here in Linn County. The Cedar River gives us so much, and every now and then it reminds us who’s boss. Here’s my friendly guide to getting ready, with links to the official pages. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1.
🌊 Know your flood risk
Is my home in a floodplain?
Cedar Rapids has a floodplain page with maps, river level links and tips. You can look up your address on the City’s Floodplain Map & Property Info tool or FEMA’s flood map search.
Our area can see river flooding, flash flooding from heavy rain or snowmelt, and ice or debris jams.
Questions about floodplain rules?
City Development Services can help: 319.286.5780 or [email protected]. The City also keeps a list of flood links from FEMA, the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Flood Information System.
📈 Watch the river and the sky
River levels
Check the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids gauge from the National Weather Service (with forecasts) or the U.S. Geological Survey (live readings).
NWS river gauge → · USGS gauge →
Source: National Weather Service: Cedar River at Cedar Rapids
Weather watches & warnings
Our local forecast office is the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities. A NOAA Weather Radio with a tone alert is a great thing to keep at home. Cedar Rapids also shares city alerts in the Mobile CR app.
🏠 Flood insurance basics
Your regular policy probably won’t cover it
Most homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program can cover the building, your belongings, or both. Renters can get a policy for their belongings too.
Don’t wait! There’s usually a 30-day waiting period before a new policy takes effect.
🌪️ Storm & tornado safety
When a tornado warning sounds
Go to a safe room or storm shelter if you have one. Otherwise, go to a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Watch out for flying debris. Learn what your community’s siren sounds like.
Source: Ready.gov: Tornadoes
Turn around, don’t drown
Never drive or walk through a flooded road. The water may be deeper than it looks. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person down, and 2 feet can float a car.
Make a plan: how would your family leave, and where would you meet up?
🎒 Build an emergency kit
The basics
- Water: one gallon per person per day, for several days
- Food that won’t spoil, at least a few days’ worth (the City suggests at least 3 days per person), plus a manual can opener
- Battery or hand-crank radio, and a NOAA Weather Radio
- Flashlight, extra batteries, first aid kit and a whistle
- Phone chargers and a backup battery
- Prescription medicines, plus pet food and water
- Copies of insurance papers and IDs in a waterproof container
Source: Ready.gov: Build a Kit
🚨 Linn County Emergency Management
How to reach them
The office is staffed Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Staff may sometimes be out for operational needs.
Office: 319-892-6500
After hours: call the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at (319) 398-3911 and ask to have a staff member paged. They’ll call you back as soon as they can.
6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Sirens
The outdoor warning sirens are tested the first Wednesday of every month at 8:45 a.m.
Sirens are meant to warn people outdoors. If you hear them during severe weather, go inside right away to a basement. No basement? Go to an interior hallway away from windows. Then tune in to local radio or TV. And please don’t step outside to hear them better!
Where to tune in
In a community disaster, turn on local TV or radio. Our local Emergency Alert System radio stations are NewsRadio 600 WMT and 96.5 FM Kiss Country.
Tornado myths
- The southwest corner is safest? Myth! It’s no safer than anywhere else. Go to the basement, under something sturdy, or else an interior hallway away from windows.
- Open the windows? Myth! It doesn’t reduce damage, and flying glass is a real hazard. Protect yourself, not the windows.
- Outrun it in a car? Tornadoes are unpredictable. If you’re in a car and one is near, get out, lie in a ditch or low area, and protect your head with your hands.
Need a number? My Who to Call page lists local offices and phone numbers. And if anyone is in danger, call 9-1-1 right away.