WATERLOO - As waters rise to record levels, Cedar Valley residents look to local

media to let them know if they're in danger and what they can do help

their neighbors.

However, Cedar Valley media outlets and news organizations couldn't escape the impact of the story they

were covering as flood waters encroached on them Wednesday.

As the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 501 Commercial St., and KWWL-TV News

channel 7, 500 E. Fourth St., followed the emerging story, they also

became immersed in the flood waters.

The Wednesday Courier was printed at the Cedar Rapids Gazette's

printing facility after water filled the Courier building basement. While

online readers could follow breaking news and updates, the Courier phone

system was offline Wednesday.

Flood waters knocked out a power substation by Regions Bank in the

morning, knocking KWWL off the air for more than three hours at about 6:30

a.m. The station was back on the air using a backup generator at about

9:30 a.m.

KCRR, 97.7, KKHQ, 92.3 and KOEL, 98.5, all located at the Black's Building, 501 Sycamore St.,

were also affected by the power outage and off air until getting back

on air with their own backup generator after 9 a.m. During that time

the stations' phones also weren't working.

"There was probably a brief, two-hour window there where your local

media was unavailable," said Jason Burns, KCRR assistant program

director.

Once power and phone services were restored to the broadcasters, calls

poured in from people asking for the latest information or sharing the

latest rumors about the flooding.

Burns said people's imaginations filled in the gaps during the media

silence.

"We are part of the story," said Courier Publisher David Braton.

"But the story is of the community as a whole. It's not about us;

it's about Waterloo; it's about Cedar Falls; it's about Waverly."

Braton said Courier staff reviewed their emergency plan in late May

shortly after an EF5 tornado swept through the area. While the Wednesday

edition did arrive as planned from Cedar Rapids, impassable roads may

make it difficult for carriers to get the paper to everyone on time.

"We ask people be understanding," Braton said. "We are in

disaster mode. We're surrounded by water."

Braton thanked the Gazette for use of printing facilities to help the

Courier keep people informed and record the historic flooding for

posterity.

"We're all part of the same team… regardless of the banner that

you fly," he said.

Planning ahead helped KWWL get back on the air Wednesday, said station

manager Kim Leer. Anticipating the worst, Leer hired a production truck

from Madison, Wis., and a generator Tuesday night.

The generator provided minimal power to keep the station on the air.

News staff prepared to do a live cut-in live shot from the station's

back parking lot since the building didn't have enough power to run the

studio lights.

"It's just like we're out in the field," said Leer.

In the field it was business as usual, said News Director Jon

Okerstrom. Reporters and photographers continued to gather footage and

information. Back at the office, staff worked without phones and under the

illumination of flashlights. The station's Web site was continuously

updated from offsite location.

"We have a duty to inform our viewers," said station manager Kim

Leer. "They look to us to get the information they need to run their

lives."

The Courier printing facilities stayed above water when the Cedar River

crested Wednesday afternoon, but news staff relocated to Hawkeye

Community College as water poured from the storm sewers onto downtown

streets.

The disaster tested the leadership skills of both Braton and Leer, who

are both new to their positions at the helm of media outlets.

"It's kind of a baptism by fire," Braton said.

Braton stepped into the publisher position April 1. Leer's first day

as station manager was June 2. Both praised their respective staffs for

their work during the disaster.

Okerstrom said it's all part of the job.

"We are people too. We are affected by it, but sometimes our personal

needs take a backseat. When we get time to breathe then we can focus on

ourselves for a bit.

Contact John Molseed at newsroom@wcfcourier.com