Story highlights More than 10,000 residents have evacuatedIowa's National Guard has deployed more than 400 soldiers(CNN) Thousands of Iowans are taking no chances in advance of what could be one of the worst floods in the state's history. For days, the rising waters of rivers and creeks in eastern Iowa have forced more than 10,000 residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city, out of their homes and businesses. The flood, the worst Cedar Rapids has witnessed since 2008, comes on the heels of a fatal Wisconsin flood after heavy rains hit the area last week. Greg Buelow, the city of Cedar Rapids' public safety coordinator, said he's watching the clock as it approaches 7 a.m. That's the time he said the Cedar River is set to crest -- holding at 23 feet for another six hours. It's now considered the second-worst flood the area has ever seen, according to CNN affiliate KGAN"The next several hours are going to be critical," Buelow said.

Source: CNN September 27, 2016 08:26 UTC