The waters of the Great Floods of 1993 have long since receeded, but the images of the destruction they caused still swirl in the back of our minds.

Ten years ago this month, rushing floodwaters altered the way Iowans lived and worked for a few weeks, even months for some, but they changed our lives forever. In Des Moines, many called the floods the worst natural disaster this city has ever seen, and they prompted businesses and emergency officials to develop contingency plans for future crises.

But for every sad story of lost the lost lives, lost homes, lost businesses and lost dreams, there is a tale of Iowans’ abilities to work together and to help one another at any cost – from sharing water, to filling sandbags, to opening their homes to displaced residents.

It, too, has been said about the Great Floods, that they created the greatest volunteer effort this state has ever seen and that they gave rise to our greatest attribute as Iowans – perseverance.

The magnitude and severity of the Great Floods of 1993 were unprecedented. There were seven deaths, more than 21,000 houses, apartments and mobile homes were destroyed or damaged, and more than $1 billion in crop losses were incurred. Overall, the total statewide damage was estimated at $2.7 billion.

The floods paralyzed downtown Des Moines, but banks, insurers and other major downtown employers managed to conduct business on a limited scale. Though businesses were unable to operate at full force for a week or two because they were without water, some companies managed to keep operations going with a skeleton crew or by other means.

Principal Financial Group Inc., for example, operated with about 900 of its nearly 7,000 employees at the time. Computer operators worked around the clock to keep the company’s computer network running with the help of a backup generator. Principal asked about 150 of its employees to return to work shortly after the floodwaters swallowed downtown, but management soon realized that answering the company’s 7,000 telephones would be a daunting task. To remedy that situation, they programmed the phones to relay an emergency message advising policyholders how to get insurance claims paid.

Still, only a fraction of downtown’s 60,000 workers showed up for work July 12, 1993, one day after waters from the Raccoon River crested above the levee and overwhelmed downtown. On July 13, President Bill Clinton, who visited Des Moines and West Des Moines the following day, declared the entire state a disaster area. Shortly thereafter, the water supply for approximately 250,000 people was cut off, and Central Iowans were forced to live without running water for nearly two weeks. Later still, more than 1,500 companies, or 15 percent of all Polk County businesses, registered their interest in applying for disaster aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

L.D. McMullen, director of the Des Moines Water Works, became one of the most recognized faces in Des Moines during the floods. Nicknamed “The Flood Stud” in a folk song by Dan Hunter, McMullen is perhaps best remembered for his ability to restore the Water Works’ treatment plant with amazing speed and efficiency.

McMullen said he remembers the disappointment he felt when the Raccoon River crested faster than expected and all the work he and his employees and volunteers did to save the treatment plant were in vain when the river reached a record level of 26.75 feet.

“I notified the media, and I remember being interviewed by (KCCI-TV anchor) Kevin Cooney at about 4 a.m., a couple of hours after we lost the plant, and he asked me when the treatment plant would be up and running again,” McMullen said. “We had just shut down the plant, and it felt like we had ran a race thinking we were going to win and we lost it at the very end. It was a hollow feeling, a sick feeling, when I had to tell people we had lost the treatment plant. That sticks in my mind today.”

At one point during the recovery process, McMullen pleaded with residents and businesses to keep their taps turned off until the entire water system was recharged. Some residents began siphoning off water, which slowed the recharging process. McMullen threatened to interrupt water service to anyone caught using their taps before officials gave the go-ahead.

McMullen said the floods provided a painful, but helpful lesson. They prompted the Water Works to design a contingency plan and improve its services, he said. Now the levees surrounding the treatment plant are six feet higher than in 1993; approximately one-third of the DMWW’s employees have moved into new quarters following the restoration of flooded offices and buildings; flood gates were installed in Des Moines and West Des Moines; and a second DMWW treatment facility was installed at Maffitt Reservoir.

“We could take on a flood the magnitude of 1993 and still be in operation now,” McMullen said. “We also know a lot more now about the watershed up north, which gives us a better opportunity to be prepared.”

McMullen credited the work of his employees, the Iowa National Guard and the residents of Central Iowa for helping the city recover so quickly.

“You can go on and on and on about all the different people involved,” he said. “Everybody was patient and tolerant and chipped in when we needed them.”

Jeff Dumermuth, emergency medical services chief of West Des Moines, said the members of his department, like other city employees, was asked to perform a variety of duties in addition to staffing two ambulances around the clock. From going door-to-door to warn residents and business owners about fast-rising floodwaters (more than 5,000 were evacuated from the Valley Junction area), to helping place sandbags in front of buildings and securing shelter for victims. Multitasking, he said, was a common theme during the 1993 flood.

But above all the hard work that took place during the crisis, Dumermuth said the dedication of city employees and West Des Moines citizens sticks out in his mind when recalling the event.

“Their dedication really showed the commitment they have to the community,” he said.

Rod Van Genderen, chief building inspector for West Des Moines, concurred. He said the first thing that came to his mind when he was reminded of the floods’ 10-year anniversary was the volunteer efforts of citizens who gave up family activities on the holiday weekend to save the West Des Moines Waterworks plant, as well as homes and businesses.

“There was an incredible swarm of people on Railroad Avenue and at the water treatment plant,” he said. “It was like a beehive. There was concern about saving the water treatment plant because Des Moines had just lost theirs and people from Des Moines were coming to West Des Moines to get water and take showers. It was quite an effort by a lot of people, many who didn’t own a home or a business in the area, who gave up their holiday to sweat in the hot weather.”

Floods of 1993 timeline for Des Moines Water Works

Thursday, July 8, 1993

o Between eight and 10 inches of rain fall in the upper watershed of the Raccoon River. Tornadoes are spotted in Central Iowa.

Friday, July 9

o The Des Moines Water Works begins flood-fighting preparations in the morning, expecting a crest of 19 feet by Tuesday. Record flooding predicted for Valley Junction area in West Des Moines. Portions of Ames and the Iowa State University campus flood as Interstate 35 closes.

Saturday, July 10

o More than 5,000 people are evacuated from Valley Junction area as the Raccoon River rises a foot an hour.

o By 9 a.m., the DMWW water plant becomes an island behind its levee, 25 feet above the normal river stage. By 1 p.m., the breaches in the levee are closed and chemical supplies are ordered. Water levels are expected to reach 16 feet, rendering the plant an island in the middle of the Raccoon River by sometime on Monday. At 3 p.m., the weather bureau predicts a crest of 21 feet. The levees provide four feet of protection as flood preparations continue. About 10 p.m., the river level reading is 22.5 feet.

Sunday, July 11 – Day 1

o At 1 a.m., DMWW staff members watch as waters continue to rise and workers continue to reinforce the levee. At 3:02 a.m., the DMWW’s treatment plant floods. Officials, standing in ankle-deep water with 4,160 volts of power around them, request the authority to close the plant. The request is granted as the Raccoon River crests at the historic level of 26.75 feet. At 7 a.m., the DMWW staff meets to plan the recovery of the treatment plant.

o An estimated 35,000 to 40,000 Midwest Power customers are without electricity.

o Safe drinking water is not expected for a month as truckloads of safe water pour into Greater Des Moines.

Monday, July 12 – Day 2

o De-watering of the DMWW plant begins as customer service and office operations are set up at Hoover High School.

Tuesday, July 13 – Day 3

o Cleaning and repairs begin at DMWW treatment plant as employees clean up a petroleum spill from the pumps and 100 Iowa National Guardsmen add sandbags to the levee. The state is declared a disaster area by President Bill Clinton, and much of the power to Des Moines is restored.

Wednesday, July 14 – day 4

o The DMWW treatment plant is de-watered and pumps are sent to a local machine shop for cleaning and drying. President Clinton tours Des Moines and West Des Moines.

Thursday, July 15 – Day 5

o The DMWW plant begins treating water with a chlorine and a large emergency generator is operated as efforts to flush the clearwell begin. Residents are asked to turn off all water services. Mayor John “Pat” Dorrian orders all non-essential businesses to close until water is restored.

Friday, July 16 – Day 6

o The first DMWW pump begins operating as the treatment plant resumes service with temporary operations in place.

Saturday, July 17 – Day 7

o The second DMWW pump becomes operational, and the third and final motor is ready to go. Ames hit by more flooding.

Sunday, July 18 – Day 8

o The DMWW begins pumping water into the distribution center.

Thursday, July 22 – Day 12

o Water service is restored to four zones within the metropolitan area, and residents are allowed to flush their toilets and take showers for the first time in 12 days. Water is not yet safe to drink.

Monday, July 26 – Day 16

o Most Des Moines businesses resume operations.

Thursday, July 29 – Day 19

o The water is declared safe for drinking.

Monday, Aug. 9

o All water use restrictions are removed and customers begin using water as needed.