New Iowa Flood Board Cancels Meeting Due to Flood

A new board created to help Iowa communities limit flood damage is cancelling an upcoming meeting because of flooding.

The Iowa Flood Mitigation Board had planned to meet Tuesday in Cedar Rapids, in what would have been its second meeting since being created by law last year.

But spokesman John Benson said Friday the meeting will be delayed and rescheduled while city and state officials respond to ongoing flooding in Cedar Rapids and other parts of the state.

When it is fully up and running, the board is expected to hand out money from a special fund to help municipalities pay for projects such as levees, embankments and reservoirs to protect them from floodwaters. Officials are still drafting the rules that will govern the program.