City of Iowa City Also Prepares for Potential Flooding

Media Release

The National Weather Service has indicated that the potential exists for heavy rain in the Johnson County area both today, Tuesday, May 28, and Wednesday, May 29, with the possibility of an additional one to two inches Thursday, May 30. Based on current forecasts, there is potential for flooding along the Iowa River later this week or next. 

The City of Iowa City is taking a number of precautionary measures in anticipation of continued rainfall and flooding in the area. 

• A limited number of pre-bagged sand bags are available at the Iowa City Water Treatment Plant, 80 Stephen Atkins Drive. Bags will be available at the second entrance, north of Stephen Atkins Drive. Gates will be open to the public until the sandbags are gone, at which time the gates will be locked as usual. Upon entering the facility drive, follow the cones to the bags. Citizens are responsible for loading their own bags. 

• Northbound traffic on North Dubuque Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic in front of the University of Iowa Mayflower residence hall beginning today until Saturday, June 1. This lane reduction is to facilitate the installation of a Hesco flood barrier wall in front of the building. 

• Southbound traffic on North Riverside Drive will be closed to through traffic beginning Wednesday through Saturday. Northbound traffic will remain open. This closure is to facilitate the installation of a flood wall at the UI Art Building West. 

Iowa City officials will continue to closely monitor Iowa River and area creek levels and provide updated information as it becomes available. 

Additional resources:
The Iowa Flood Center tracks specific community-based flood conditions, forecasts and related information on the Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS) athttp://ifis.iowafloodcenter.org. For details on how to use IFIS, watch the tutorial video provided on the site and contact IFIS with any questions.

The Army Corps of Engineers is monitoring water levels at the Coralville Reservoir and will adjust outflows as conditions require. The level and forecast for the Coralville Reservoir can be followed at http://1.usa.gov/10EqSUk.

The National Weather Service forecast for the Iowa River can be found at http://1.usa.gov/16mEyeE.

Please continue to check these links for the latest information. To keep up-to-date on the latest Iowa City news, visit http://www.icgov.org or follow the City of Iowa City on Facebook http://on.fb.me/154HN6h or Twitter https://twitter.com/cityofiowacity.