IOWA CITY - Army Corps of Engineers staff informed Iowa City staff Tuesday morning, June 10, that outflows from the Coralville Reservoir have been raised from the 18,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) outflow on Monday to 20,000 cfs. This correlates to a further increase in the water level on the Iowa River of approximately one foot from Reservoir outflow alone. The Coralville Reservoir is now estimated to reach the spillway midday on Wednesday, June 11. Flow rates will increase from that point.

Flood waters are not expected to peak until Monday, June 16 at the earliest.

URGENT NOTICE TO RESIDENTS ALREADY AFFECTED BY FLOOD AND TO THOSE ADJACENT TO THE FLOODPLAIN

The flood of 2008 is now expected to exceed water levels experienced in the 100-year flood of 1993. Properties adjoining those directly affected in 1993 are now vulnerable to inundation. Residents and property owners in flood-prone areas are urged to continue their protective actions. At this point in time, it is also important to start planning for evacuation. Sandbag levees should not give a false sense of security to residents and property owners. If they should fail, it becomes a dangerous situation where people can become stranded and lives are put at risk attempting rescues. Local officials advise to start your evacuation planning now. When leaving a home prior to a flood, it is important to shut off the power and place a sand bag over the floor drain in the lower level. The City does not have the resources to assist with moving personal belongings. There are informational links on www.icgov.org/riverwatch.

A gratifying response from volunteers, both from Iowa City and from elsewhere, has resulted in many thousands of sandbags being installed over this past weekend. It is estimated that there are now approximately 1 million sandbags installed in Johnson County. The volunteer effort will need to continue and increase over this coming week to deal with the continuing rising levels of the river. Volunteer sandbaggers should report to any of the following areas immediately: Go to the Thornberry Dog Park in the Peninsula to finish up work on the well heads there (take I-80 exit 244 – still open to Foster Rd.; Idyllwild condo area behind Parkview Church (take same exit as to Dog Park); Stevens Drive commercial area; (Thatcher & Baculis Mobile Home Parks (2254 Riverside Dr.); Volunteers can check updated locations at www.icgov.org/riverwatch. (Radio and TV outlets: Please announce the specific locations but please check website for current updates. Print media: You may wish to instead supply the website link to direct people to needed locations as this list is revised frequently.

Resources for Residents Impacted by Flooding:

Residents needing help with sandbagging for their property can call 887-6202. This phone in City Hall will be answered 24 hours a day until further notice.

Red Cross Disaster Assistance: The Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter in Bldg. A of the Johnson Co. Fairgrounds (3149 Old Hwy. 218 So.). This shelter offers food and housing to those displaced by the flood. Those individuals who need assistance with shelter or other needs can call the Red Cross at 319-393-3500.

An emergency shelter for displaced pet animals is also located here in a separate building, operated by the Iowa City Animal Care Division.

The MidAmerican Energy phone number to call for shut-offs and other issues is 1-888-427-5632 (answered 24/7).

The City of Iowa City has sand and sand bags available at the City Equipment Building, 1200 S. Riverside Drive. The bags will be located in the parking lot past the fuel pumps – look for signs.

Other residents can assist by staying away from flooded streets and roadways. Do not drive on flooded roadways. Trail users, bicyclists and pedestrians, should stay away from closed trails in lower City Park and trail crossings under bridges and in low lying areas downstream. Dubuque Street between Park Road and Foster Road will be closed until further notice. Park Road Bridge and Rocky Shore Drive is closed. For access to downtown Iowa City, motorists should use Exit 246 – Dodge Street. Some Iowa City Transit routes have detours due to flooding. Go to www.icgov.org/busdetour or call 356-5151 for detailed information.

Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek has banned all watercraft and recreational use of the Iowa River from the spillway below the Coralville Dam all the way down to the Hills access area. This is a precautionary move because of the amount of and the speed of the water flow.

Go to www.icgov.org/riverwatch for continuing information and updates.