Kyle Carter, Executive Director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership, says the flooding is inconvenient and "a pain in the neck." But the city learned a lot from the flood of 2019.
Business owners and companies along the river received letters about Davenport's preparations for the flood, with details about where to get help. Day and night, city employees are watching pumps and "walking the levees."
"They're happy that their plumbing is still working. That's great. We're open, like Stompbox and Front Street who are right on the front lines there along River Drive continue to operate. You know, everybody's always a little on edge when this happens and with detours and things like that, it's a struggle. But for the most part people have been optimistic."
Four years ago, a temporary flood wall broke, flooding stores, restaurants, apartments, cars, and trucks with river water. The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce pushed hard for Davenport to improve its flood plan and infrastructure.
"At about 21 feet, the Village [of East Davenport] had to shut down because the wall went up at Mound and River Drive which was great. Except that it killed access. One of the big things in the plan that needs to get done and funded is, a pump station needs to be built in the village and River Drive raised by a couple of feet."
Despite difficulties with parking and detours, Carter says the best way to help local businesses is to buy their goods and services.
