Public and private officials in Cedar Rapids are trying to keep basic services operating as much of the downtown area remains underwater. Patients from Mercy Hospital had to be moved to St. Luke’s hospital due to the flooding.
St. Luke’s Hospital marketing director, Kendra Rice, says the evacuation went according to plan. She says they knew there was a potential for flooding and started making plans. Rice says they have two tankers of water available in case the city loses water, and also has food on hand. Some of the Saint Luke’s employees are among the thousands who have been evacuated. Rice said other employees are taking up the slack.
Rice says those employees are staying overnight after their own shifts to be there again in the morning. A special command center is assigned to making sure employees do not get too overtired. Rice says it’s amazing to see what the water has done to the city.
Rice says the water is up over all street signs, and has gone over the top of the Dairy Queen. She says you can no longer see any of the downtown bridges in the city. All Cedar Rapids residents are being told to conserve water because only one the city’s major wells is still working.