DES MOINES, Iowa – The rising Cedar River burst through an earthen levee Thursday just outside Cedar Rapids, and at least 10,000 people there have been ordered to evacuate, officials told NBC News.
Power is out for most of downtown, complicating rescue efforts, city spokesman Dave Koch said.
Cedar Rapids firemen have been organizing boat rescues of stranded residents, Koch added.
The new evacuations follow a 150-foot breach early Thursday in an earthen levee.