CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids Fire and Police Departments are currently securing the perimeter of the area. A plan has been developed to divide affected areas into ten sectors (See map or look at image below). Additional National Guard and law enforcement will be used to secure original evacuation areas from looters. Residents will be denied access until the area is secure and homes are deemed safe to re-enter.

Check Points for Each Sector:
A - North side of Harrison at O Ave and 11th Street
B - Abbe Center
C - 1st Ave and 11th St
D - DOT at 16th and 6th
E - J St and 19th Ave
F - Bowling St and 21st Ave
G - 12th Ave and 10 St SE
H - 8th Ave and 10th St SE
I - E Ave and 15th St NE
J - Otis Rd and Memorial


There will be approximately 390 residences in each sector. Each sector will be cleared from the exterior of the sector towards the river. Each sector will have an entry check point. The entry points are being established and will be identified and announced on Sunday, June 15, 2008, at 10:00 AM press conference. Entry will not be allowed prior to noon.

Law enforcement and National Guard will secure the perimeter and check points. The entire perimeter of the area will also be secured by road blocks and roaming patrols. There are certain requirements that must be met to re-enter your area:

- No vehicles will be allowed into the perimeter. - Only 3 people per residence will be allowed in. - You may only carry items out on your person. - No wagons/dollies are allowed in the area. - Only one trip per household.

Solid Waste is currently preparing for clean up by bringing in transfer trailers for waste removal.

There will be a two step process for re-entry:

Step 1:
A Strike Team will be made up of USAR (Urban Search and Rescue), Cedar Rapids Police and Fire (HAZMAT), Cedar Rapids Streets and Solid Waste, Alliant, Mid American Energy, Building and Housing inspectors, Public Health, Animal Control, National Guard. Strike Teams will be deployed to the ten sectors and go door to door assessing safety, clean up and structural concerns that must be address prior to citizen reentry.

USAR will use search and rescue dogs to aid with search efforts.

Public Health will be responsible for an initial assessment of the evacuation area to determine that the area is safe for the Strike Team.

A system is being developed to mark property that has been deemed safe for residents to go back in. USAR will determine the marking system.

Area ambulance and potential National Guard medics will be staged at check points to take care of medical needs.

It is critical to ensure the safety of the Strike Teams. Tetanus shots will be available to emergency personnel only.

If the structural integrity of a building is in question, an inspector will be called to assess the situation

Step 2:
After a home has been determined to be safe for reentry, a list will be developed and maintained at the entry checkpoint. Residents must show identification at the checkpoint to be allowed reentry after their home has been declared safe. They will be required to sign in and out of the area.

Each resident will be provided with a wristband that will show that they are allowed in that sector. Wristbands may be different colors for different sectors and days to maintain security for access to the area of identified residents in those areas only. Residents will be required to obey a curfew from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Access will be allowed only from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

Clean up will be organized into four categories including appliances, hazardous materials, organic/yard waste, and garbage. Residents will be required to sort waste by those categories.

Large plows will assist with removal of debris on the streets.

Information on how to know when your home has been checked and cleared for access will be made available soon.

The officers that are being utilized in the flood areas for the Strike Team and securing the area are in addition to the officers responding to calls for service. Because of the tremendous assistance from other law enforcement across the state, we are still actively patrolling Cedar Rapids. Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Navy Reserves, and Coast Guard will be aiding our effort and patrolling in secured areas.

It is extremely important that residents and business owners stay out of the area until it has been determined that structures are safe. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department has responded to several gas leaks downtown. There are numerous hazards seen and unseen in the affected area. Please be patient as businesses and homes are checked and cleared. Now is the time when people get hurt because they go into areas that are not secured. We are fortunate that very few injuries have been reported so far. Please help us keep that number down.

Check Points for Each Sector:
A - North side of Harrison at O Ave and 11th Street
B - Abbe Center
C - 1st Ave and 11th St
D - DOT at 16th and 6th
E - J St and 19th Ave
F - Bowling St and 21st Ave
G - 12th Ave and 10 St SE
H - 8th Ave and 10th St SE
I - E Ave and 15th St NE
J - Otis Rd and Memorial