Flood Buyouts: Independence, IA

I worked on a story about flood buyouts in other Iowa towns a few weeks ago. About 1,300 people in Cedar Rapids are awaiting word on buyouts.

Independence bought out 84 homes near the Wapsipinicon River after flooding in the 1990s, and turned the land into parks. A band shell was built in one of the parks, along with picnic shelters, trails and playground equipment. These sisters grew up in Independence and remember the area when it was full of houses.