EVANSDALE - The evacuation order was given Wednesday morning to about 50 campers at Deerwood Park.

The swollen Cedar River is threatening to engulf the campground in Evansdale. Its already swallowed up Black Hawk Park campground upstream, putting its availability for the busy Labor Day weekend in doubt.

George Wyth State Park is closed too. Campers were asked to leave Wednesday night.

It's the same story for many campers in Black Hawk County: Leave now while there's still time.

"It's just not worth risking people's campers or lives. We'd rather be safe than chance it," said Marilyn Benhoff, camp host at Deerwood. People are supposed to be gone by noon today.

By 1 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service said the Cedar in Waterloo was 10.8 feet, or 1.2 feet below flood stage. That's about at the top of the boat ramp at Deerwood, which is at the same level as the lowest-lying campsites.

By Saturday, the river is predicted to crest at 14.5 feet, and that's not taking into account the several inches of rain in the forecast through Friday. Some of the 160-plus sites at Deerwood will eventually be submerged, the question is how long.

"It depends on how high (the water) gets and how quickly it falls. Usually it's only a matter of days and we can be open again … it's hard to say now if we'll be available for Labor Day weekend," said Joe Benhoff, Deerwood maintenance supervisor.

Steve Hansen and Chantale Foster were begrudgingly packing their Forester fifth-wheel camper Wednesday afternoon at Deerwood. Even though their rig is the closest one to the river and they watched the water rapidly rise all morning - the boat ramp went from totally exposed to almost submerged - the couple doesn't want to go.

"I think they're jumping to conclusions," Hansen said, skeptical of whether the campground will be flooded. After spending the last 13 summers at Deerwood, this isn't their first evacuation.

They'll temporarily stay at Foster's father's place in Waterloo and wait for the park to re-open.

"It's something we go through all the time. It's no biggie," he said.

Other seasonal campers at Deerwood, like Larry Jacobson, Sr., don't know where they will go. With other nearby campgrounds like Black Hawk Park and George Wyth State Park closed, the options are dwindling.

As the retired iron worker originally from West Union packed up his travel trailer, he said he wasn't too concerned.

"I'm a survivor. Been there, done that. I have no idea yet where I'll go," Jacobson said.

Vern Fish, Black Hawk County Conservation director, said there's still hope. Three county campgrounds are sitting high and dry and open for business.

Hickory Hills Park in northern Tama County, but operated by Black Hawk County, can squeeze in 80 campers if needed. McFarlane Park near La Porte City can accommodate 80 to 100 campers and Siggelkov Park, on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River north of Dunkerton, can hold 30 to 40 units.

People still wanting to camp this weekend and next are calling about availability.

"This is a classic reason why we're building the campground at Big Woods Lake with Cedar Falls with 55 (spots)," Fish said.

Black Hawk Park, with 175 sites, closed for the first time this summer Tuesday about noon. But not before workers cabled together some 300 picnic benches, moved some cabins to the parking lot and shut off electricity, said Mike Hendrickson of Black Hawk County Conservation. On Wednesday morning, the reason for the preparations is visible from the park gates.

"Now we just have to sit back and see how high it gets," said Hendrickson.

Although Hendrickson has witnessed more severe flooding, the recent and pending storms are nothing to smile about. The conservation official is hopeful to get cleanup crews into the campground early next week.

"We'll be scrambling to save Labor Day," Hendrickson said.

Courier staff writer Karen Heinselman contributed to this report.

Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or matt.wilde@wcfcourier.