A new tool has identified 250,000 suitable locations for on-road structures, an innovative flood mitigation practice that uses the existing roadway embankment as a temporary dam during heavily rainfall events.

The Iowa Flood Center (IFC) has installed 31 new hydrologic monitoring stations (hydrostations) in Eastern Iowa to better monitor and predict floods and droughts.

In June 2023, Witold Krajewski celebrated his retirement as Iowa Flood Center director after leading the center for 15 years. IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering director and IFC co-founder Larry Weber will serve as interim director.

In recent weeks, Iowa has been hit by intense storms and extreme weather, resulting in record flooding. The damages from these storms have cost Iowa an estimated $130 million in damages. Extreme weather and the damages caused by such events has caused Iowa’s focus to shift to flood protection and prevention services and have highlighted faults in Iowa flood prevention techniques and the Iowan levee system.

The Iowa Flood Center (IFC) has developed new flood inundation maps for New Hartford, Iowa. These maps are non-regulatory and are a resource to help residents understand and monitor flood risks at the individual property level and throughout the community.

Witold Krajewski retires as director of the Iowa Flood Center after 15 years of leading its success and helping Iowans become more flood-resilient.

The center wants everyone informed on what to do if and when high water ever comes to to your door step.

On this episode of River to River, IPR's Western Iowa reporter Sheila Brummer gives an update on the catastrophic flooding in Northwest Iowa that has forced hundreds of people to evacuate. Then, Wiltold Krajewski, director of Iowa's Flood Center, joins the program to share how the Iowa Flood Information System helps detect potential flooding and gives communities time to prepare.

The Iowa Flood Center (IFC) provides an all-in-one resource for all Iowans to be able to see flooding data – without needing to be a meteorologist. The IFC was founded after the 2008 floods in eastern Iowa to provide more on-the-ground information for local leaders and citizens. The Iowa Flooding Informational System website collects flooding forecasts, community assistance resources, and more, all in one location that’s user-friendly.

As the Midwest begins to recover, many won’t have flood insurance, which must be purchased separately from homeowners insurance. Federal data shows that across the flooded states of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, the government has only issued about 26,500 flood insurance policies combined.