Click above for Youtube video of bus evacuation.
As all regular transit service was suspended in Cedar Rapids, city buses were used to transport evacuated inmates from the Linn County Jail to other facilities Thursday morning. According to the Gazette, more than a dozen buses were lined up along 3rd Ave SE between 6th and 8th streets, while at least two buses plowed through the water, 4-5 feet deep in some locations from Mays Island to the transfer site to other buses on 3rd Ave.
Some side panels were removed from the bus to prevent the water pressure from rolling the bus. Some that were not removed were literally falling off afterwords. According to a KCRG.com younewstv report, the buses began to float toward the curb by Smulekoff’s at 3rd Ave and 1st Street, so the doors were opened to let in water and get the buses back down.
Todd from the Gazette has some great images on Flickr (eibbtoddb) and a Youtube video you can link to above. Below are a few of Todd’s photos:
Cedar Rapids bus driving through deep water on 3rd Ave SE transporting inmates from evacuated Linn County Jail.
Staging area on 3rd Ave and 8th Street SE for inmates to transfer to other buses.
Side panels falling off bus after driving through window-deep water.
This flooding is unprecedented for Cedar Rapids, devastated thousands of homes and businesses. Over 400 blocks of the city including nearly every major building in downtown Cedar Rapids is currently under water. The outpouring of support by volunteers and neighbors lending a helping hand is a testament to the great community of Cedar Rapids and all of Iowa. It will be a long summer cleaning up and getting back to normal.
June 19, 2008 at 12:00 am
It’s hard to believe that the bus could run in water like that, but there’s the proof. I’m guessing they got lucky and probably would have stalled if the conditions had been slightly different.
mgo78’s YouTube comment was most apt.
June 19, 2008 at 7:45 pm
“mgo78’s YouTube comment was most apt.”
Haha – that is for sure.