Prologue
1. I attended the ceremony. Full transcripts of some of the speeches were provided to me by the speakers. This included President Obama’s letter to the residents of Cedar Rapids.
2. CorridorRecovery.org provided some of the statistics in this section. See also, “Critical Flood Statistics, 2.10.09” from Wall of Words.
3. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the stage on June 13, 2009, was 6.66 feet and flow was 8,950 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Cedar Rapids. See http://rivergages.mvd.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/station info2.cfm?sid=CIDI4&fid=CIDI4&dt=S &pcode=HG.
4. Susan Saulny. “After Iowa’s Flood, Feeling Just a Bit Ignored.” New York Times, August 27, 2009.
5. Numerous residents I interviewed mentioned the sunflowers.
6. “The Predicted Flood of Cats Is Becoming Reality.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, April 16, 2009.
7. Ron and Sharon Sims in an interview with the author, August 16, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Linda Seger in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
9. The Rush Limbaugh Show, June 17, 2008.
10. Statistics available at www.fema.gov/index.shtm.
11. Jeff Stein. One Week in June, page 3.
12. Eric Shumacher. “‘Gay Marriage’ in Iowa More Damaging than a 500-Year Flood.” Baptist Press, April 8, 2009.
13. Shannon Meyer in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
14. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
15. Gary Seger in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Chapter One
1. Steve Hilberg in an interview with the author, October 20, 2008; Champaign, Illinois.
2. Troy and Beverly Simon in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
3. According to the Illinois State Water Survey publication Winter 2007-2008: Record-Setting Storms Caused Major Damages in Illinois by Stanley Changnon, Kenneth Kunkel, and David Changnon, twenty-eight people died a weather-related death.
4. “Midwest Flood News and Statistics”: mceer.buffalo.edu/infoservice/disasters/Iowa-flood-news-statistics.asp.
5. Ryan J. Foley. “Flash Flood Inundates Wis. Town for the 2nd Time.” Associated Press, June 10, 2008.
6. Christopher Maag and John Holusha. “Tornado Hits Boy Scout Camp, Killing 4.”New York Times, June 12, 2008.
7. U.S. Global Change Research Program. Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States.
8. NOAA Satellite and Information Service. Climate of 2008—Midwestern U.S. Flood Overview. Author used this report for the precipitation totals cited in this section.
9. Iowa State University Extension. “Economic Impacts of the 2008 Floods in Iowa.”
10. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, October 13, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
11. Epic Surge, page 73. Cedar Rapids: Gazette Communications, Inc., 2008.
12. Mark Geary. “Polehna’s Meat Market Won’t Re-open.” KCRG-TV9, September 1, 2008.
Chapter Two
1. Troy Simon in an interview with the author, October 11, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2. Epic Surge, page 77.
3. “The Photo Seen Around the World.” KCRG-TV9; www.kcrg.com/blog/justinfoss.
4. Cedar Rapids Gazette, June 21, 2008.
5. Rebecca Solnit. A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster, page 2 New York: Viking, 2009.
6. Lt. Col. Tim Rickert of the Iowa National Guard, at the premiere of the documentary Resilience: The Spirit of Humanity, June 11, 2009, at the U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
7. Linda Seger in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Rebecca Solnit. “Four years on, Katrina remains cursed by rumor, cliché, lies and racism.” Guardian, August 26, 2009.
9. Troy Simon in an interview with the author, October 11, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
10. National Climatic Data Center. The day of the crest— June 13, 2008—Cedar Rapids received no rainfall. On June 14 almost another inch (0.71 inch) of rain fell.
11. Letter provided to the author by Troy and Beverly Simon.
12. Jim Angel in an interview with the author, October 1, 2008; Champaign, Illinois.
13. NOAA Satellite and Information Service. Climate of 2008—Midwestern U.S. Flood Overview.
14. Beverly Simon in an interview with the author, October 11, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The rest of the quotes from the Simons in this chapter came from that interview.
Chapter Three
1. Robb Osborne, from his personal journal; provided to the author by AEP River Operations.
2. Chad Pregracke in an interview with the author in fall 2003 on the Mississippi River near Quincy, Illinois. The article that came out of that experience was published as “Cleaning Up the Big Muddy,” Hope (March/April 2004), page 7. Reprinted as “Mississippi River’s Garbage Man,” Big Muddy (Vol. 4, Issue 2, 2004), pages 32–34.
3. Living Lands & Waters Web site: livinglandsandwaters.org. The site maintains a running list of the items Chad and his team find along the rivers.
4. Chad Pregracke in a phone interview with the author, June 26, 2009.
5. Chad Pregracke in an interview with the author in fall2003 on the Mississippi River near Quincy, Illinois.
6. Chad Pregracke in a phone interview with the author, June 26, 2009. The rest of Chad’s quotes came from the same interview.
7. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Mark Knoy in a quick phone interview with the author. Unfortunately I have lost the exact date.
9. From Kevin Lordo’s personal journal, provided to the author by AEP River Operations.
10. Jim Prosser in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
11. Frank King in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
12. The documentary film Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity, MVP Video Production, 2009.
13. Alan Gomez and Oren Dorell. “Concerns Leveled Over Polluted Floodwaters in Midwest.” USA Today, June 18, 2008.
14. Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Cedar River.
15. That story was told to the author by Cedar Rapids’ historian Mark Hunter in Czech Village on June 13, 2009. I was with a group of people waiting to go on a walking tour led by his wife, Jan Stoffer.
Chapter Four
1. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, October 13, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
3. Corridor Recovery Web site: www.corridorrecovery.org.
4. Greg Eckstrom. “The Problem of ‘Brain Drain’ in Iowa.” Boone News Republican, March 25, 2009. For more on this topic read “The Rural Brain Drain” by Patrick Carr and Maria Kefalas. Chronicle of Higher Education, September 21, 2009.
5. Graham Hutton. Midwest at Noon, page 160. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1946.
6. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009.
7. “Economist: Midwest Economy Has Hit Bottom.” Associated Press, June 1, 2009.
8. “Flood recovery will take time, says Rebuild Iowa leader.” Quad-City Times, June 6, 2009.
9. Betsy Rubiner. “A Year after the Flood, Cedar Rapids Struggles.” Time, June 17, 2009.
10. Jeff Stein. One Week in June, pages 135–36. Cedar Rapids, IA: WDG Publishing, 2009.
11. This statement came from the short-lived Christian Fong for Governor Web site. Christian is no longer running for governor of Iowa.
12. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
13. Jim Prosser in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
14. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, October 13, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The rest of Christian Fong’s quotes came from this interview.
15. Serve the City Web site: servethecity.org.
16. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
17. Ron Sims in an interview with the author, August 16, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Chapter Five
1. Linda Seger in an e-mail to the author, August 15, 2009.
2. Jon Galvin in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
3. Charles E. Fritz. Disasters and Mental Health: Therapeutic Principles Drawn from Disaster Studies, page 63. Newark, DE: University of Delaware Research Center, 1996.
4. Alexander Fernandez. The Flood Strikes Cedar Rapids, pages 2–3. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, February 2009.
5. Epic Surge, page 57.
6. Janeta Tansey in an interview with the author, June 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All the rest of Dr. Tansey’s quotes in this section came from that interview.
7. Epic Surge, page 57.
8. Interview of Dr. Janeta Tansey in University of Iowa Health Care Today.
9. Faye Huerta and Robert Horton. “Coping Behavior of Elderly Flood Victims.” Gerontologist (Vol. 18, No. 6, 1978), pages 541–44.
10. Graham Tobin and Jane Ollenburger. “Predicting Levels of Postdisaster Stress Following the 1993 Floods in the Upper Midwest.” Environment and Behavior (Vol. 28, No. 3, May 1996), page 340.
11. Barbara Powell and Elizabeth Penick. “Psychological Distress Following A Natural Disaster: A One-Year Follow-up of 98 Flood Victims.” Journal of Community Psychology (Vol. 11, July 1983), page 269.
12. R. C. Kessler et al. “Trends in Mental Illness and Suicidality after Hurricane Katrina.” Molecular Psychiatry (Vol.13, Issue 4, April 2008), page 374.
13. Jim Ernst in an interview with the author, June 11, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Chapter Six
1. Linda Seger in an e-mail to the author, July 19, 2009.
2. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
3. “Harrison History: The ‘Time Check’ Area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa”: http://harrison.cr.k12.ia.us/test/Time_Chk.html.
4. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, October 13, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
5. Janeta Tansey in an interview with the author, June 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
6. Frank King in an e-mail to the author, June 8, 2009.
7. Frank King in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Robert Caldwell in a letter to the editor. “C. R Can Rebuild So It’s Better Than Ever.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, June 30, 2008.
9. Frank King in a letter to the editor. “Time Check Neighborhood Not a Crime-ridden Slum.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 22, 2008.
10. Betsy Rubiner. “A Year After the Flood, Cedar Rapids Struggles.” Time, June 17, 2009.
11. Rick Smith. “The downtown RiverWalk is real; City Hall committee readies to pick from five design consultants.” “Eye on the Island,” Cedar Rapids Gazette, April 19, 2008. See also Rick Smith’s “Eye on the Island” column “New Life for the Riverfront Looks Likely: The effort welcomes your input, but it doesn’t need your approval this time.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, May 10, 2008.
12. Rick Smith. “Chuck Swore had dam idea first; he lives,though another Chuck occupies his former councilseat.” “Eye on the Island,” Cedar Rapids Gazette, May 14, 2008.
13. Sasaki Associates, Inc. Web site: http://sasaki.com.
14. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
15. Gary and Linda Seger in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
16. Linda Seger in an e-mail to the author, August 21, 2009.
Chapter Seven
1. Greg Eyerly in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2. Epic Surge, page 101.
3. Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity.
4. Greg Eyerly in an e-mail to the author, August 17, 2009.
5. Greg Eyerly in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
6. “Cedar Rapids official expects flood job to be hard.” Associated Press, July 20, 2009.
7. Ron and Sharon Sims in an interview with the author, August 16, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Greg Eyerly in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
9. Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity.
10. “How Volunteers, Skilled Workers Saved a City’s Water Supply.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 6, 2008.
11. Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity.
12. “How Volunteers, Skilled Workers Saved a City’s Water Supply.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 6, 2008.
13. Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity.
14. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
15. Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity.
16. Greg Eyerly in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
17. “FEMA, Cedar Rapids Disagree on Flood Damage,” Chicago Tribune, July 16, 2009.
18. Greg Eyerly in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
19. Greg Eyerly in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Chapter Eight
1. John Bloomhall in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
3. Diamond V Web site: diamondv.com.
4. John Bloomhall in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
5. John Bloomhall in an interview with the author, August 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All subsequent quotes by Bloomhall in this chapter came out of that interview.
6. Corridor Recovery Web site: www.corridorrecovery.org/stats.asp.
7. Shannon Meyer in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Sara Mentzer in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
9. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
10. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
11. Cedar Rapids’ Small Business Recovery, Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Task Force; May 1, 2009.
12. Shannon Meyer in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
13. Flood of 2008 timeline of key activities and outcomes. Provided to the author by John Bloomhall.
14. Kay Halloran in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
15. Thank-you cards provide to the author by John Bloomhall.
16. “Diamond V® Announces Grand Opening of New Manufacturing Facility.” News release from Diamond V, August 28, 2009.
Chapter Nine
1. John Berge in an interview with the author, October 11, 2008. All subsequent quotes by Berge in this chapter came out of that interview.
2. Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity.
3. Resilience, the Spirit of Humanity.
4. Iowa J. History and Politics, Vol. 42 (1944). Cedar Rapids, IA: Czech Heritage Foundation, 1982, page 19.
5. Mark Hunter. “At Home on the River: A History of Bohemian Settlement in Cedar Rapids.” Slovo (Vol. 10, No. 1, Summer 2009), page 5.
6. Ibid, page 9.
7. Martha E. Griffith. The History of Czechs in Cedar Rapids. Vol. 1. 1852–1942, pages 20–21.
8. “Voices from the Flood: An NCSML Oral History Project.” Slovo (Vol. 10, No. 1, Summer 2009), page 28.
9. Interview with the author, October 11, 2008, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
10. “Voices from the Flood: An NCSML Oral History Project.” Slovo (Vol. 10, No. 1, Summer 2009), page 27.
11. Jitka Schaffer in an interview with the author, October 11, 2008; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
12. Leah Wilson in an interview with the author, February 5, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Unless otherwise indicated, all subsequent quotes by Wilson in this chapter came out of that interview and an interview on August 15, 2009, also in Cedar Rapids. There were also numerous e-mail exchanges to check facts.
13. Leah Wilson. “Epic Disaster, Undaunted Spirit: The Story of the Flood that Changed the NCSML Forever.” Slovo (Vol. 10, No. 1, Summer 2009), page 13.
14. Erin Thomas and Susan Kuecker. “And Then the Rains Came.” Iowa Griot (Vol. 8, Issue 4, Fall 2008), pages 6, 8.
15. Corridor Recovery Web site: www.corridorrecovery.org.
16. Jon Galvin in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
17. This quote was provided by the NCSML.
18. Ernest Callenbach. Ecology: A Pocket Guide, page 16; University of California Press, 2008.
19. Executive summary, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. U.S. Global Change Research Program.
20. “National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Board Announces Plans to Move and Elevate Building.” NCSML news release, November 12, 2009.
21. Recipe first appeared as “Noodle Pudding for Thirty” in Home Cooking (November 1999), pages 20–24. Reprinted in “My Grandparents’ Legacy.” Salon (December 12, 2000); online.
Chapter Ten
1. Troy Simon in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2. E-mail holiday greeting, provided to the author by Troy Simon.
3. Troy Simon in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All subsequent quotes by Troy and Beverly Simon in this chapter came out of that interview.
4. Ron Sims in an interview with the author, August 16, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
5. E-mail by Troy Simon provided to the author.
6. New York Times, September 21, 2009.
7. Shannon Meyer in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Ernest Callenbach. Ecology, pages 70–71.
9. Ibid, page 117.
10. Janeta Tansey in an interview with the author, June 14, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Chapter Eleven
1. Ron Sims in an interview with the author, August 16, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, February 6, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
3. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
4. Rebecca Solnit. A Paradise Built in Hell, page 86.
5. Christian Fong in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
6. E-mail, December 4, 2009.
7. Jim Prosser in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
8. Frank King in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
9. Jim Prosser in an interview with the author, June 12, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
10. Jim Prosser in remarks given at the June 13, 2009, flood commemoration; attended by author. Prosser later sent a transcript to the author.
11. Ron and Sharon Sims in an interview with the author, August 16, 2009; Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All subsequent quotes by Ron and Sharon Sims in this chapter came out of that interview.
12. “Terex to Cut 170 Positions at Iowa Plant.” Associated Press, August 6, 2009.
13. Cindy Hadish. “Business Drags in Czech Village.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, September 24, 2009.
14. E-mail sent by Linda Seger, December 28, 2009.
15. “Cedar Rapids Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study Continues.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers news release, December 28, 2009.
16. Iowa State University Extension. “Economic Impacts of the 2008 Floods in Iowa.”
Epilogue
1. Wikipedia entry about Eddie Simon, confirmed by Troy Simon in the August 15, 2009, interview.
2. Beverly Simon in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids.
3. Troy Simon in an interview with the author, August 15, 2009; Cedar Rapids.
All quotes provided in e-mails sent to the author between January 29, 2010, and February 5, 2010.
4. City of Cedar Rapids news release, “City to Demolish 286 Flood-Damaged Structures This Spring,” March 8, 2010.
5. E-mails sent to author from Jon Galvin. March 11 and 13, 2010.
6. E-mails to author from Linda Seger, March 13 and14, 2010.
7. “Report: More than $10 million in Cedar Rapids flood aid misspent.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, March 12, 2010.
With Gratitude
1. Richard Ford in an interview with Don Lee: “About Richard Ford: A Profile.” Ploughshares (Fall 1996).