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Main Facade of the Cedar Rapids U.S. Courthouse

GSA Iowa Field Office comes together in midst of potential disaster

| Tanya Roman, public affairs officer, Heartland Region
Post filed in: Courthouses  |  Public Buildings Service

The community of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and GSA came together to successfully implement an emergency action plan during a recent flood. After receiving the warning for this year's flood, the GSA Iowa Field Office ensured employees working inside the Cedar Rapids U.S. Courthouse and surrounding federal facilities, prepared for the potential impact of the flood. A team began to erect barriers around vulnerable entryways, an effort that included 20 people working tirelessly for more than 85 hours to complete. Barriers and pumping stations, combined with 910 sandbags, protected the courthouse from potential damage.

Concerns began to rise as local officials prepared for the possibility that a levee could be overtopped if the river stage surpassed 22.5 feet. Flooding that devastated downtown Cedar Rapids in 2008 sped construction funding of the new courthouse. The move was instrumental in preparing for future climate events and GSA and its partners quickly learned that how crucial that decision was.

Two-person teams also monitored water levels and the performance of mitigation efforts around the clock. Between monitoring activities, personnel staged sandbags in the building for emergency response to any back-up storm drain and sanitary sewers.

While tenants never had to evacuate, the courthouse was put into “weekend mode” for the safety of all of its occupants on Sept. 26th. Due in large part to the hard work of many GSA employees and contractors, the courthouse was able to resume normal operation on Oct. 3rd.

Robert Phelps, clerk of court for the U.S. District Court in the Northern District Iowa, was extremely pleased with GSA's response, stating that he received excellent customer service from experienced and knowledgeable professionals during the flood.

It's a beautiful thing when you work hard, develop and institute a plan and the end results are as you expected. Had it not been for the exceptional forethought of GSA and its project partners, this year's flooding could have been devastating to the courthouse and its occupants.

When all was said and done the river crested at 22 feet, leaving the courthouse and GSA's other federally leased properties safely intact and its employees more prepared than ever should the waters rise again.