Despite a week-long joint effort of the students, professors and the National Guard of sandbagging, the swollen waters of the Iowa River swamped more than a dozen buildings in the campus of Iowa University. Authorities were left only with the option of evacuating the campus and hundreds of residents of the nearby homes.

The river, which divides the city of about 60,000 residents, rose to about 31.5 feet, a foot and a half below predictions, but still dangerously high.

"It's demoralizing…I'm focused on what we can save," said the University of Iowa President Sally Mason, who toured the flooded campus.

"We'll deal with this when we get past the crisis."

Although it was too early to estimate the damage caused by the flooding, university officials said at least 16 buildings had been flooded and other may have the same fate including some architectural gems.

Some 500 to 600 homes received the evacuation order and hundreds other did it voluntarily, said Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey.
 
The homeowners will be allowed to go back to their homes when the city determines it's safe.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver welcomed the “little bit of good news" that the Iowa River had crested, but warned that the circumstances were still unsafe.

The nearly 24,000 people evacuated from their homes in Cedar Rapids got their first up-close look at the situation.

"As the river recedes, we're beginning to see the incredible destruction that is left behind," said Dave Koch, spokesman for the city. The water marks on buildings were visible 5 feet above the ground.

The city officials carried on inspections in homes for possible electrical and structural hazards.