Floods Force University to Suspend Classes

Classes at the University of Iowa have been suspended after at least 8 feet of water flooded the campus despite massive sandbagging efforts, officials said.

While rivers dropped in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and crested earlier than anticipated in Iowa City, the Iowa and Cedar rivers took flood waters to the state’s southeastern corner, prompting evacuations of all or portions of Columbus Junction, Oakville and Fredonia during the weekend, The Des Moines (Iowa) Register reported Monday.

Iowa City, site of the University of Iowa, residents also faced volunteer evacuations Monday after 500 and 600 homes were ordered cleared Sunday, CNN reported Monday.

Meanwhile, in Cedar Rapids some of nearly 20,000 people displaced by flooding were allowed to inspect their homes. Tempers flared as residents waited hours to gain access to their homes because they were being inspected for safety, the Register reported.

We didn’t think (flood waters) would get this high, Cedar Rapid resident Tina Fleischacker told CNN. We moved everything upstairs and it’s gone. It’s gone. We left with the clothes on our backs.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said about 36,000 Iowans were homeless because of the flood and agricultural damage could reach $1 billion. He has declared 83 of the state’s 99 counties disaster areas.

Officials said 16 people, including 12 from tornadoes, died in weather-related deaths since storms began peppering the state May 25.