The City of Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance have issued press releases today with updated flood information. Please see information from the release here and visit their website at www.cedar-rapids.org for continued updates.

Additionally, the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance would like to reiterate the following messages most likely to be of interest to member businesses:

Access to potential flood areas is becoming difficult. Unless you are volunteering or have specific business to conduct, the public is asked to avoid downtown, NewBo, Time Czech NW, Czech Village and the 8th Ave. and 16th Ave bridges to make room for construction and installation of flood protection measures.

If you do still have a business purpose in the core neighborhoods, you can use parking in most of the City parking ramps. Gate access arms have been raised and parking is free for those who absolutely need to be downtown. On-street parking is now being prohibited in most core areas. Pay attention to signs and instructions from officials.

A strongly advised evacuation will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday in the area shown on this map. A curfew from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. will be enforced in the evacuated area from Sunday night until further notice. Checkpoints will be set up to allow solely essential personnel to continue to have access after 8 p.m. Sunday. At that point, expect to be asked for photo identification and specific information about your purpose and whereabouts.

If your business is in the evacuated area, plan to be out for as much as one week. Officials remain hopeful that impacts might be minimal and that a return to businesses can happen sooner. But the City is advising that you plan for a week-long absence beginning Sunday night.

Alliant Energy will be evaluating power shut downs on a block-by-block basis. Businesses requesting power shut downs should call Alliant Energy and say the word "Emergency."

Those wanting to volunteer should visit www.uweci.org. The United Way's 211 line is now reserved for those requesting assistance.

For the latest information, visit the City's website at www.cedar-rapids.org.

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