Report from IOWA: Day 3

[Condem]

Our bleak situation is about to get a whole lot worse. The Iowa River is not scheduled to crest, now, until next Friday. The word around Iowa City, is that officials are reluctant to tell residents how devastating this going to get. By Sunday, the eastside and the westside will be severed. That leaves only I-80 which is a question mark. Where I sandbagged Wednesday (North Hall on the U of I campus) is under a couple of feet of water. Where I sandbagged yesterday (the Memorial Union) developed a small breach today and a foot of water covers that area. It's like a war zone with activity everywhere. Except downtown which is a mostly abandoned. We're still sandbagging and I suspect we will be until further notice. The Flood of '93 will pale compared to this. My condolences to the Russert family, which I just found out about. Hope you are all well, GDPers!

[glowing]

1. kick

[cbayer]

2. What kind of assistance are you getting?

National guard? FEMA? What a disaster. Continuing kudos to you for being there and actively working.

[bullwinkle428]

3. There are some National Guard around here, but I'm not sure

how many that COULD have been here if it weren't for Iraq...

I know that LOTS of people are pitching in to help with the sandbagging and other things. I just had surgery on my shoulder a couple of weeks and am in no condition to help. I did buy a shitload of supplies that they needed at the animal shelter & delivered them when they were forced to relocate by the flood waters...

[Condem]

5. Thanks, bullwinkle!

I don't want to start shit, but people are bringing there four or five year old kids down to the piles to "help out". At times, it's slow going.

[bullwinkle428]

9. One of the radio guys (KXIC I think) was still trying to encourage

people to consider helping with the sandbagging efforts even if they can't do "Heavy lifting" - I guess someone has to tie the knots in each bag. I'll give them a call at the Camp Cardinal site tomorrow morning and see if they can use me. I can get there very easily from North Liberty..

Yeah, I'm guessing that kids that young are only going to slow down the process!

[Condem]

18. bullwinkle

When the machine is running smoothly.... a shoveler, a holder, a knotter, but most important, the feeder of the bags! Simple!

[Condem]

4. Just National Guard, cbayer

A funny story, though. I just walked off the shoveling line when four State Troopers come speeding in. A fiend of mine who works for Congressman Dave Loebsack jumps out to greet me. I say to him "that looks like Chuck Grassley". Yes, he says and "theres Harkin and Gov. Culver". I said "this is going to be real bad, isn't it"? Yes, he says and was off to a photo op. I got out of there. Slowing down progress.

[cbayer]

6. It's really bringing back a lot of memories for me.

We felt so abandoned in New Orleans. The first people to arrive were the press, and they were of no help at all. I hope that the good people of Iowa City are safe and dry. You must be exhausted.

[Condem]

8. Nothing that a couple of scotch and waters can't help with

Thing is, you start working and all you do is drink water. Some great souls deliver pizza, so you shove a slice down. But, it's mainly water. I've lost ten pounds. Down to 150 lbs. But a lean, mean shoveling machine.

[cbayer]

14. That sounds like my experience.

18 hours of hard work, 2 hours of heavy drinking, 4 hours of restless sleep and very little food. I really, really know what you are talking about. I look forward to tomorrow's report.

[Cha]

7. Thanks Condem

I'm so sorry about the extreme weather there in Iowa. Sounds like ya'll are hangin' Tough.

[Condem]

10. Zidzi

It brought tears to my eyes to see the breach at the Memorial Union. A ton of work, yesterday.

[Cha]

12. I bet it did..

:hug:

[Condem]

15. I finally broke down and went to the top of Dubuque St....

Which overlooks our beautiful City Park. I had to leave quickly, as the gawkers had there cameras out. It's just a vast lake.

[Cha]

20. We'll be there in spirit and

funds to help you all when you're ready. :)

[Condem]

23. Thanks, zidzi

[Peacetrain]

11. My son has been working all day

at the library.. hand in there Condem..I know the water is okay..but I would not take any chances..and go to HyVee or Fareway and get some water set back.. just in case..

[Condem]

13. peacetrain

We all ask about the Water Plant. Nothing is said. It's pretty high up, but awful marshy there. I probably bumped into your son.

[Peacetrain]

17. Condem, my son was talking about the spirit of Iowa City

how everyone has come together..he is so proud of his town :) ..rightfully so..I am sure you have run into each other.. I was caught in it on Tuesday as it hit Waterloo.. but got out in time.. that was before it hit Cedar Rapids.. but I have been really worried about the water situation..like you said it is so marshy now.. the farm lands are like sponges..

[Condem]

21. peacetrain

The only description I know is a war zone. Helicopters over head. Heavy machinery constantly moving. As cbayer will attest, you see the true human spirit at it's VERY best. You keep going. You look around at the humanity, but not long, cos your eyes well up.

[Peacetrain]

24. Youre' in my thoughts Condem..Things look to

get worse before they are going to get better.. I know they are closing the highways.. just awful.. will check for your posts in the AM.. and all of the people in Eastern Iowa.. CR, Iowa City..Des Moines ..we are thinking about you..

[Condem]

28. peacetrain

I'll check in tomorrow night.

[Peacetrain]

33. Good Morning Condem.. just got up and getting ready to

check the Iowa River stages.. hope you had a quiet night.. I turned on the national tv and it looked like rain was falling again over the Iowa City area.. hope not.. stay safe

[Peacetrain]

34. Just checked the weather.. clear now..but 60 % of rain again

tomorrow..YIKES!

[Irishonly]

16. I have been thinking of you all

I grew up in Iowa and I am just sick about the flooding in all of the states. Keep safe

[Condem]

25. Appreciate it, Irish.

[stray cat]

19. Thanks for the report - I was hoping you would post - stay safe

I heard 380 between CR and IC was closed today - I don't think that happened in 93.

[Condem]

26. All roads are severed, dmordue

My wife works for the conference center and had to pay for a speaker to get here. $500. Through Marshalltown, BTW, the University is closed for a week.

[stray cat]

29. Closing the University - wow. I guess they have to with the east and west severed

as it appears the city will be.

[Condem]

30. Except for a rare snow day and Gang Liu....

Never for a week.

[stray cat]

31. Were you there when Gang Liu went on his rampage? - that was horrible

I was over in the Medical Education Building - what an episode.

IC was a great place to live - I never thought we would see a flood this much worse than 93.

[City Lights]

22. My thoughts are with you and other Iowans, Condem.

Thank you so much for your first-hand reports. Stay safe, and know many DUers are thinking of you tonight. :hug:

[Condem]

27. It's a pleasure posting this, No Surrender

I'll report, daily. If I can.

[CoffeeCat]

32. Condem, have you seen this Chertoff comment???

I'm wondering what your take on this is:

Michael Chertoff is praising FEMA for it's quick response to the Iowa floods.

Maybe FEMA has been helping in your neck of the woods, and maybe they're doing
great work. I'm in Des Moines, and I've been watching the news very closely
and I haven't heard anything about a FEMA presence. Chertoff said that they've
been efficient at getting people food and water.

I haven't seen any of that going on from FEMA. I've literally been reading
news from Cedar Rapids and Des Moines around the clock. I saw a CR story
about Braley requesting aid/housing from FEMA. Other than that, I haven't
seen or heard about a FEMA presence.

Maybe you have.

I thought this story was odd, because it's IOWANS who have been doing all
of the heavy lifting and helping each other out.

Again, I might have missed something--and if so, I guess I'm just turning
into a pessimist.

link to Chertoff story containing his comments.
http://www.kcci.com/news/16604468/detail.html