Rising Rivers, Rising Concern

A view of downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, shows widespread flooding from the raging Cedar River, Thursday, June 12, 2008. Heavy rains continue to pound large portions of Iowa and as flooding continues officials are scrambling as rivers are expected to crest at record levels in many portions of the state.

Spc. Scott Wheat, right, rushes to assist Cedar Rapids Firefighter Brent Smith, left, and Sgt. Brandon Adams, second from right, as they carry Louie Moran of Cedar Rapids to safety on 1st Ave W. after being rescued from his home at 814 3rd Ave NE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday evening, June 12, 2008.

River Runs Through It — AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

The Cedar River overflows its banks, flooding downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Thursday, June 12, 2008. Officials estimated that 100 blocks in Cedar Rapids were under water, forcing the evacuation of nearly 4,000 homes and leaving cars underwater on downtown streets.

A large municipal building and a day care center are surrounded by water from the swollen Iowa River, Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Signs posted near the courthouse warn of water from the Cedar River that continues to rise Wednesday June 11, 2008, in Vinton, Iowa. Flood waters have inundated the electric plant in Vinton and the entire city is now without power. Officials are preparing for the Cedar River to crest at record levels all across the state.

Charlie Lough herded his cattle onto the porch of his farmhouse before he fled to safety from the rising water of the Cedar River, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, north of Vinton, Iowa.

Water from the Cedar River continues to rise Wednesday June 11, 2008, in Vinton, Iowa.

Ethan Cornell, 5, helps fill sandbags as the water from the Cedar River continues to rise, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, in Vinton, Iowa.

From left, Nikolai Qual, Chandler Cone, Dirk Marple, Jacob Roberts and Kelsey Hart form a sandbag line while volunteering to reinforce a wall along the Iowa River, Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in Iowa City, Iowa. With rivers continuing to rise and more heavy rain on the way, state officials said they are trying to help towns already battered by floodwaters while working to protect others.

Eric Danielson, of Iowa City, grabs a sandbag off a truck while volunteering in Iowa City, Iowa, Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

An old television set floats in the flooded driveway of a home along Taft Speedway, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, in Iowa City, Iowa. Thunderstorms rolled across the state again Wednesday, but with rain totals of generally less than half of an inch in most locations.

George Klimanon, left, and Dalius Kazlauskas move a boat filled with items belonging to their boss down Taft Speedway, while helping him to clear out his house, Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in Iowa City, Iowa.

John Chase, right, his sister Kathryn Chase, center, and her friend Rachel Shalla, remove some of his belongings from a canoe after retriving them from his flooded home, Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Nearly a half a mile of sandbags were placed along the Cedar River in preparation for a rising river near downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tuesday, June 10, 2008. The rising Cedar River was causing the most concern in Cedar Falls, where officials were preparing residents and downtown business owners to evacuate as the river threatened to spill over a levee that protects the area.

Cedar Falls residents Amanda Rose, left, Josh Bergeron, center, and Terry Williams, right, sandbag the Main Street Bridge along the Cedar River near downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tuesday, June 10, 2008. The rising Cedar River was causing the most concern in Cedar Falls, where officials were preparing residents and downtown business owners to evacuate as the river threatened to spill over a levee that protects the area.

Nearly a half a mile of sandbags are placed along the Cedar River in preparation for the rising river near downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tuesday, June 10, 2008. The rising Cedar River was causing the most concern in Cedar Falls, where officials were preparing residents and downtown business owners to evacuate as the river threatened to spill over a levee that protects the area.

Tee the goat watches as his owner Tim Woods, center, and Corey Woods try to repair a flooded generator at their home in New Hartford, Iowa, Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Tee has not left his owners side since the flooding struck the town.

A levee break along the Embarras River near the Indiana line in southern Illinois is seen Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Officials say levee breaks in the area are forcing some evacuations, and the flooded area so far is mostly farmland and prairie.

Flooded farmland near a levee break along the Embarras River near the Indiana line in southern Illinois Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

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