WATERLOO - Because of last year's record flooding, fire officials recently upgraded their fleets to be better able to respond.

When historic river levels swamped neighborhoods and threatened downtown areas, Waterloo firefighters found they were under equipped: Engines on their two johnboats couldn't keep up with the overwhelming flow.

"There were places where the boats would barely move through the current," Capt. Steve Weliver said.

One of the Waterloo boats received minor damage when crews helped evacuate residents in New Hartford before flooding came downstream into Black Hawk County.

The boat apparently ran into a submerged metal post of some sort, like a guard rail, Weliver said.

Earlier this year, Waterloo firefighters received two new watercraft. With the help of a grant from the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, the department bought an inflatable Zodiac and a custom, V-hulled aluminum boat made by Clark Boat of Bellevue. The grant also covered the trailers, life vests, ropes, poles and other water-related gear.

Cedar Falls rescue crews also replaced two of their aging johnboats and added a 12-foot Zodiac, Chief John Schilling said. He noted, however, the purchase was in the works before the 2008 flood.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the departments got a chance to try out their new craft during joint training.

The rubber Zodiac - the same type of craft used by the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy SEALS - uses five air chambers to keep it afloat.

"It's an inflatable, unsinkable boat," Schilling said.

The Zodiac can hold about a ton of weight compared to a johnboat's 1,000-pound capacity, Weliver said. Waterloo fire crews ferried people from more than 50 homes near Weiden Road during June 2008.

"After the floods of last year, it was an issue of how much people and equipment you can haul," he added.

The Zodiac boats also are more stable in the water and less prone to tipping than johnboats.

"It's like a raft going down the Colorado River. You can fill it with water and it will still float," Weliver said.

Stability also is one of the benefits of the V-hull on Waterloo's aluminum Clark boat. If a flat-bottom johnboat goes up against a good-sized wave, it will take on water.

The V helps the boat ride up and out of the water, Weliver said.

Both of Waterloo's new boats come with engines with shrouded propellers, which increases safety when plucking people from the water.

"You're not going to chop someone's legs off," Weliver said.

Schilling said Cedar Falls will use its johnboats in recovery roles while the Zodiac will be the primary rescue vessel.