DES MOINES — Des Moines officials announced they would begin evacuating an area north of the downtown and near the Des Moines River.

Police are going door-to-door in the Birdland neighborhood, an area that encompasses about 220 homes and 20 to 30 businesses, said Des Moines Police Chief Judy Bradshaw. Some residents have already left the area, Bradshaw said.

With river levels expected to crest in the Des Moines area over the weekend, they’re expecting a more orderly evacuation than during the 1993 floods.

“We have the luxury now of being able to do our notification, which was different than in ’93. In ’93, we used boats to help people evacuate,” Bradshaw said.

The evacuation is voluntary, but Bradshaw said they would encourage people to leave the area.

To notify residents, they’re using an electronic phone messaging service, having officers visit homes and businesses and leaving flyers at doors where no one answers.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said they are not concerned the city will lose water service as it did for several days as a result of the 1993 floods.

Cownie said the city is far better prepared for flooding than it was 15 years ago.

“We know what we’re doing,” Cownie said

The Des Moines Police Department has moved its patrol unit from the downtown headquarters on the riverfront to the police academy on the south side of the city.

“We are really prepared. We’ve hunkered down, if you will,” Bradshaw said.

Charlotte Eby can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.