First Cedar Rapids Flood Evacuees Evaluate Homes

By Josh Hinkle, Anchor/Reporter

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By Josh Hinkle

Story Created: Jul 2, 2008 at 1:44 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Police first ordered evacuations in the neighborhood around 19th Ave SW and B St. SW. Many residents stayed behind, because the water was rolling in slowly.

Tina Fleischacker says, "It started coming up through the ground really fast and before we knew it, this caved in."

When her basement walls collapsed, Fleischacker knew it was finally time to abandon her home.

She says, "It's not just a neighborhood. It's not just a house. These aren't just things."

The day the Cedar River rolled down the street outside her house, Fleischacker said she didn't expect the water to reach her home. But it kept her family away for nine days and destroyed almost all of their belongings.

"My dad passed away. I cried when I saw his things. It wasn't a lot, but..."

The water line stopped about a foot high in her daughter, Darrian's, second floor bedroom.

Darrian says, "(It) just doesn't feel like I've lived here. The memories are gone. The pictures aren't hanging up. My cats aren't here."

With the severity of the damage, Fleischacker says now everyone wants to know why she stayed after the evacuation order.

"If you think that you have anything at all that you can save..."

Twelve years in this house is a lot to run away from.

"It doesn't feel like our home anymore. Just like a place that we used to live."

"Fleischacker and her daughter are staying with her mother in Marion at this time. They don't have any plans to rebuild this house and if they ever do but another house, they say it definitely won't be in a flood plain.

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