DES MOINES, Iowa -- Several Iowa cities and towns are suffering through historic flooding, though by far the worst was in Cedar Rapids, where an estimated 1,300 blocks were underwater. About 24,000 people there were forced from their homes and early estimates put property damage at $736 million.

One emergency official in Iowa described the state's flooding as "our version of Katrina."

Officials and residents in Cedar Rapids have two pressing water woes -- getting rid of floodwater, while holding on to what little drinking water is left.

Floodwaters on Saturday finally started to recede in Cedar Rapids. But officials warn that if the people who stayed behind don't cut back on their use of drinking water, the supply will run out within three to four days.

In Iowa City, more than 200 homes were evacuated because of the swollen Iowa River, which caused major damage. The river had not yet crested there Saturday.

In Des Moines, most of those living in the 270 homes that had been under evacuation orders had left after a voluntary evacuation request went out Friday. The Des Moines flood evacuation order was lifted Saturday for all areas except one neighborhood, Des Moines’ KCCI TV reported.

A levee failure on the Des Moines River early Saturday morning caused a mandatory evacuation of the Birdland Park area on Des Moines' north side, an area of more than 200 homes, a high school and about three dozen businesses.

The failure happened around 3:45 a.m. in the area of 7th and New York Avenue, which is west of North High School, in the area of the old Riverview Amusement Park, KCCI reported.

Des Moines Public Schools Director of Community Relations Phil Roeder said district officials had no access to the high school building and could only assess the situation from a distance and from media images, KCCI reported.

Des Moines also reopened the downtown bridges Saturday that had been closed because of high water worries, making it easier for drivers to get through the area, the station reported.

At least three deaths in Iowa have been attributed to the storms and subsequent flooding, and 12 more have died in two recent tornadoes.