News : Flood forces some residents from homes along Cedar River

The home of Brian and Jennifer Parr was one of several in the path of rising flood waters Friday.

'Bear Island:' Brian Parr's sculpture in his yard, surrounded by water Saturday morning.

Saturday morning flood view (photos by Dawne Schminke)

"I love my house. I don't want to move."

Jennifer Parr stood outside her back yard, overlooking her recently-completed flower garden on Third Avenue near the light plant. While she spoke about the time and money she has invested in her garden, her husband and some friends were loading furniture into a trailer parked in the front yard.

Jennifer and husband Brian live in one of the lowest areas of Vinton, near a street drain that is among the first to back up and fill streets and yards -- and possibly the Parr's home.

Jennifer said she was told to expect up to several inches on her main floor, and that sand-bagging in that area may only cause the potential water problems to worsen. By Friday evening, some water had begun seeping into the basement.

Despite that dire forecast, the flood only reached the basement, and not the Parr's living space, before the river began receding on Saturday morning.

A few other people in the area spent Friday moving things out of basements, or out of their homes altogether as they tried to keep their belongings away from the potential damage of flood waters.

State Farm insurance agent John Leonard said several of his clients have reported damage this week, although most have been due to to flash floods and sump pump problems, rather than water from the rising river.

EMA Director Scott Hansen said that the FEMA buyout program has moved many homes that otherwise would have been significantly damaged from the area expected to flood this weekend. Other residents elevated their homes or built concrete flood barriers around their homes after the flood of 2008.