FLOOD 08

FLOOD 08 represents the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The shapes echo those found in the FEMA “2008 Flood Inundation Area” map. The piece is composed of over 3000 plastic drinking straws. The various shades of blue symbolize the Cedar River in its natural flowing watercourse. The opaque black describes the footprint of the floodwater during the historic flood of 2008. Waters surged beyond the 500-year floodplain. 14% of the city was overrun by floodwater, leaving mud, mold, pollution and destruction in its wake. This natural disaster was the sixth largest FEMA declaration after such events as Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 Terrorist Attack. No one died in Cedar Rapids in the Iowa flood of 2008.