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| Thousands forced out by US floods | Thousands forced out by US floods |
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| At least 24,000 people have been forced from their homes in Iowa by flooding, which has also severely damaged crops in America's main corn state. | At least 24,000 people have been forced from their homes in Iowa by flooding, which has also severely damaged crops in America's main corn state. |
| Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders as Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and other Iowa cities were partly deluged. | Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders as Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and other Iowa cities were partly deluged. |
| The disaster was triggered by storms blamed for at least nine deaths in the US Midwest this week. | The disaster was triggered by storms blamed for at least nine deaths in the US Midwest this week. |
| South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana have also been affected. | South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana have also been affected. |
| TV crews crowded around Barack Obama as he shovelled sand | |
| Iowa Governor Chet Culver has declared most of the Hawkeye State a disaster area. | Iowa Governor Chet Culver has declared most of the Hawkeye State a disaster area. |
| In Illinois, local Senator Barack Obama was out helping local people fill sandbags on the banks of the Mississippi river at Quincy. | |
| The authorities are predicting record water levels there in the coming days. | |
| "Since I've been involved in public office we've not seen this kind of devastation," the Democratic presidential hopeful said. | "Since I've been involved in public office we've not seen this kind of devastation," the Democratic presidential hopeful said. |
| Crops ruined | Crops ruined |
| The floods have wrecked the Midwest's corn and soybean crops, helping push already high food prices to record levels this week. | The floods have wrecked the Midwest's corn and soybean crops, helping push already high food prices to record levels this week. |
| I wanted the rest of the world to know what was happening to us down here David HowellCedar Rapids resident Swamped by the flood | I wanted the rest of the world to know what was happening to us down here David HowellCedar Rapids resident Swamped by the flood |
| State capital Des Moines was dealing with its first major flooding on Saturday as water poured out of the Des Moines river when a levee gave way. | State capital Des Moines was dealing with its first major flooding on Saturday as water poured out of the Des Moines river when a levee gave way. |
| One of the worst affected areas is Cedar Rapids city, where 438 streets have been submerged and nearly 4,000 homes evacuated. | One of the worst affected areas is Cedar Rapids city, where 438 streets have been submerged and nearly 4,000 homes evacuated. |
| Officials in the city - which is the state's second largest with a population of about 120,000 - warn its drinking water supply is under threat. | Officials in the city - which is the state's second largest with a population of about 120,000 - warn its drinking water supply is under threat. |
| The cost of the damage in Cedar Rapids alone has been estimated at $737m (£380m). | The cost of the damage in Cedar Rapids alone has been estimated at $737m (£380m). |
| City Mayor Brian Fagan said: "It's a bit overwhelming. This is an endurance competition." | City Mayor Brian Fagan said: "It's a bit overwhelming. This is an endurance competition." |
| The Cedar river crested on Friday night at nearly 32ft (9.75m), 12ft (3.66m) higher than the previous record, set in 1929. | The Cedar river crested on Friday night at nearly 32ft (9.75m), 12ft (3.66m) higher than the previous record, set in 1929. |
| "This is our version of Katrina," Johnson County Emergency Management spokesman Mike Sullivan said in Iowa City, in a reference to the hurricane that caused devastation in New Orleans in 2005. | "This is our version of Katrina," Johnson County Emergency Management spokesman Mike Sullivan said in Iowa City, in a reference to the hurricane that caused devastation in New Orleans in 2005. |
| Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? Tell us about your experience by filling in the form below. | Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? Tell us about your experience by filling in the form below. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |