IOWA CITY FLOOD; Day 4

[Condem]

(My post from last night - that got lost with the server update)

Where to start. The good news. Local authorities, anticipating a huge volunteer turnout, filled Madison St. from Burlington to Jefferson (2 city blocks) with sand. And, turnout they did! U of I President Sally Mason estimated 2000 volunteers! By 2:00 p.m., the sand piles were gone, leaving officials scrambling to distribute the sandbags where needed. In fact as I type this , they are still moving them. An overwhelming effort! Good thing, because Mason said that sandbagging efforts would be halted at the U of I at 5:00 p.m. Now it's up to nature.

At 3:30, we were asked to leave the sandbagging area due to the instability of the coffer dam AND the approach of a severe thunderstorm. A tough break. No rain was expected today, yet the Iowa City area got two thunderstoms with pea-sized hail that lasted a couple of hours. I can't tell you how much we got but it went directly over the Iowa River watershed and just will compound problems.

The Burlington St Bridge is the last connection between the east and the west. That should close tomorrow. That leaves just I-80 over the Iowa River. The 30 mile trip to Cedar Rapids is now a 281 mile jaunt. Many buildings in Iowa City and Coralville are under water with cresting not predicted until sometime Tuesday.

No, twosparkles, no sign of FEMA, unless they're working undercover. Hats off to the Salvation Army and Red Cross who provided us with much needed food and water. To sum it up, unbelievable flooding. Keep us in your thoughts, GDPers!

[Bluzmann57]

1. Good luck to all of you out that way

I would like to come up and help out, but it's nearly impossible to get there from the Quads right now. Besides, we have flooding issues of our own at this time. Iowans are damn fine folks and we will persevere.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

18. Photos from NY Times 1-7 - it looks like Katrina without the people on the roofs

slide show from NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/13/us/0614-FLOODS_index.html



An aerial photograph shows flooded area of downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, June 13, 2008. Interstate I-380 can be seen in the center. Floodwaters inundated about 100 city blocks of Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city. It has a population of 200,000.
Photo: Ron Mayland/Reuters



An aerial photograph shows the flooded town of Palo, Iowa. Overflowing rivers in Iowa forced evacuations and disrupted the region's economy on Friday with fears of worse to come.
Photo: Ron Mayland/Reuters



Homes were flooded in the southwestern Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Friday June 13, 2008. Officials think the Cedar River has reached record levels.
Photo: Steve Pope/Associated Press



People rowed down a flooded street to their home to rescue their cat in Cedar Rapids.
Photo: Frank Polich/Reuters



Residents and volunteers helped build a sandbag embankment around near Quincy, Ill.
Photo: Seth Perlman/Associated Press



Cedar Rapids, Iowa was pummeled with more rain overnight. In the downtown area, May's Island, where City Hall and the courthouse sit, was under water on Friday.
Photo: Stephen Mally for The New York Times



On First Street downtown, the traffic lights were out. But it hardly mattered.
Photo: Stephen Mally for The New York Times

[uppityperson]

43. Thank you. That is does. Incredible.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

19. Photos from NY Times 8-14

Slide show here
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/13/us/0614-FLOODS_index.html



Some relief may be in sight, with forecasters saying the water may begin to recede over the weekened. But it was likely to take a long time.
Photo: Stephen Mally for The New York Times



Iowans used to to describe Cedar Rapids as the city that could not flood. For evidence, they pointed to a series of big storms dating back more than a hundred years that pushed the Cedar River to its limit, but did not cause problems. It may be a long time before anyone makes the claim again.
Photo: Stephen Mally for The New York Times




Don Etter (left)with his grandson Noah Klamerus, 5, in Cedar Rapids. His house is partially flooded.
Photo: Stephen Mally for The New York Times




With the water still rising, the authorities continued to evacuate some residents from their homes.
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images



People were not the only creatures in need of rescue. A Cedar Rapids firefighter, Jeremy Wagner, saved a cat from a flooded home.
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images



At Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, where Eric Wood and Dan Kula lent a hand, officials had hoped to keep treating patients. But on Friday they began evacuating them.
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

[FrenchieCat]

25. OMG.....those pictures really bring home just how devastating the damage

is and will be. It is so hard to believe without seeing these photos, and so obviously very, very tragic! :cry:

[zeemike]

2. Thank you for keeping us informed

I don't have cable so I know only what I hear here.
And I think that the media does not want to talk about things like this because it might make people wonder if it is not due to Global Warming.

[happyiowan]

3. I'm getting cynical

I'm starting to wonder if it's less about global warming and more because the media doesn't feel the Midwest has the glamor factor necessary to sell shampoo and diapers.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "We're on the way." - Republicon-crony infested FEMA

"Just hang on for a couple of more weeks."

- Republicon-crony infested FEMA

[Condem]

5. FEMA?

What's that? As always, too little too late.

[SpiralHawk]

9. It used to be the government agency that helped people in disasters...

Until the republicons got hold of it, drowned it capabilities in a bathtub, and diverted its resources to enrich corrupt republicon cronies.

FEMA = Federal Emergency Management Agency...

Which now, like all republicon agencies, FAILS pathetically at everything the citizens of the United States of America need or expect or deserve...

[janx]

6. Thanks for the update.

I've been wondering about Iowa City. :hi:

[happyiowan]

7. Iowa City checking in

The water is still rising. It's hard to predict what happens next. Burlington Street bridge is the last bridge from east to west that is open here in town. They're planning on closing it later today. After that, one will have to go north to interstate. The I-80 bridge will be the only way to get from one side of town to the other. In other words, later today, our town will pretty much be cut in half.

[stray cat]

8. Welcome to DU and thanks for additional news from IC

I went to graduate school there and was housesitting for a friend on Normandy drive in 93. We thought it was bad then. Hope you live someplace dry and best wishes!

[janx]

16. How is the university? I went to school there.

I read something about concerns about the library (natch, since it's right by the river). I also read that some university buildings are flooded. ??

[happyiowan]

17. Every building along the west side of the river is flooded.

Hancher, the Art building right on down to the Power station. On the eastside, North hall, some water in the IMU . But, I think the sandbagging will win out. Let's hope.

[janx]

20. Drag!

Hang in there!

[stray cat]

10. Condem - good to hear from you - I was looking for your post last night

Thanks for the continued updates. I have family in the Quad Cities but they are pretty much cut off from IC as you well know so your updates are great. My brother in law in CR lives in the 500 year flood area and his house is flooded out - like many no flood insurance.

Best wishes, stay safe and thanks for posting!

[happyiowan]

13. I'm typing for Condem

Little known fact, I'm his wife. I saw the DU banner at the Inauguration way back when, and have been lurking ever since. Now I have Condem addicted. He's getting ready to go sandbag again. I'll send him your best and update in his place as I can.

[blondeatlast]

24. Thank you for keeping us updated and send Condem our thanks for sandbagging.

Stay safe and we are thinking of all of you. :hug:

[Peacetrain]

11. Got ther hawk alert last night

at our house that a tornado had touched down in Iowa City.. but turned out to be a false alert.. scared me half to death..being all away across the state.. We have you ALL in our thoughts and prayers.. stay safe IC, CR, DM, Coralville, and all the little towns and farms around there

[JimGinPA]

12. FEMA Under This Administration Is Like A Fire Department That Never Lost A Foundation

[ensho]

14. DU keeps me informed on the flooding way more then the media

early morning CNN headlines reporting on the floods was minimal and left one thinking its bad but not that bad. from the start we here at DU knew it was THAT bad.

thanks for posting and wishing you all the best of luck and stamina.

[Bluzmann57]

21. We have several who actually live here in Iowa

and who are directly affected by this mess. But we will survive.

[happyiowan]

15. A little good news, everybody!

The spillway at the Coralville Reservoir crested last night. Which will push up our scheduled crest to Monday. The flood stage in Iowa City is 22 feet. Currently, the river is at 31.5 feet. More rain is coming in the next couple of hours, though.

[Peacetrain]

22. Good to hear happy...that the crest is a day early..hope it

does not take as long to retreat.. and that the rain hold off north of IC, CR, etc.. I think that is what could do more damage, than even the rain in town..

[cascadiance]

27. Projections now show that the peak has past and is no longer Tuesday...

The Weather Channel is showing most of the storm activity is going south of Iowa City. There might be a storm tonight (I don't live there so I can't speak for weather conditions now), but it sounds like it's projected to be clear weather for a few days once that blows through. So hopefully the worst is over. If that's the case, then perhaps a lot of what folks did out there to protect buildings with sandbag walls, etc. will have been worthwhile!

A newly created blog on Iowa flooding conditions:

http://www.iowaunderwater.com/

Here's a map of Iowa City's storm damage from the Des Moines Register:

http://data.desmoinesregister.com/flooding/iowacityfloodmap.php

[Peacetrain]

28. Thank you for the links..this is better news.. that the crest has happened

[janx]

30. Thanks for posting this.

Condem was right. There's some contradictory info in the map though; it says Main Library at risk of flooding, but points out (in a box) that the library is taking on water. Maybe that was added later. And I know that if the Union is surrounded by water and the library is taking on water, then the English-Philosophy Building has taken on some water as well. Such a drag!

Thanks for the links.

[DemReadingDU]

41. Thanks for the map

I have never seen Iowa so devastated by flooding. I have relatives in Clinton and Davenport.

[saltpoint]

23. Most of us have you in our thoughts, and I hope there is some kind of

more vigorous response from the Bush administration with a view toward providing needed help and relief.

Sadly the Bush administration's record on relief missions in-country is notably horrifying, which means the volunteer crews will be most of the heavy lifting.

You hang in there.

[dana_b]

26. you are in our thoughts

We hope you stay safe and thank God for the SA and RC.

[Debi]

29. Thinking of you Condem!

Keep safe!!

How are you all doing this afternoon?

[Adelante]

31. Thank you and God bless you

:loveya:

[happyiowan]

32. Great news, everyone!

Condem just called me. He finished off the last of the sandbagging at a park on the southeast side. Then, he called from a parking ramp that overlooks the Iowa River (where CNN is set up). He can see the water has receded on a little brick building that had flooded. Looks like it's crested!

[cascadiance]

36. A poster on another blog said he thought he was seeing some receding as well...

I think the consensus is still looking good now. Hopefully the storm activity tonight is mild and you all can start getting things cleaned up tomorrow and the sand bags will have done their job!

[janx]

33. LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

http://uiflood.blogspot.com/

You must see these pictures! They brought tears to my eyes--so many people kicking ass at the university, sandbagging and moving. Warning: You will see Grassley's mug a few times in the pics. ;-)

The spirit involved is nothing short of incredible.

[happyiowan]

34. Thanks, janx!

[janx]

35. You guys are so cool.

I wish I were there to help. :hi:

[Bluerthanblue]

37. you are in my family's

thoughts and prayers, as are so many others.

Try and stay safe, strong and know you are not alone, even when it may feel that way-

Wish I could be there to help in a tangible way.

:grouphug:

peace~
blu

[graywarrior]

38. That is astounding...I cannot believe what I am seeing.

Thank god President Obama is there helping out. I mean that. Those people are so hurting right now.

[cascadiance]

39. Heard a bad rumor on another board... We might lose the Mayflower...

Supposedly the rumor is that the Mayflower apartments (student residence hall) might have irreparable damage to the foundations and might have to be closed down. That will mean quite a few students not having housing soon if this is so. I guess they will have the summer to build some newer facilities to prepare for the Fall, but one hopes that this rumor doesn't have truth to it!

For those who don't know this building, here's a pic of it:



I once knew someone that lived in the apartment complex next to it there many years ago, but that's another story.

Also rumors that the Parkview bridge might collapse too.

[happyiowan]

40. Wouldn't surprise me.

I think the Park Road Bridge is going to make it, however. Just down there on my bike. The water is over it, but it's holding up well. Tons of debris washed up on it.

[Peacetrain]

42. This is at least the second time Mayflower has been flooded..

they were still cleaning up the last time students came back in the fall..but I don't know what will happen this time.. the thing that I don't understand is why they built Mayflower so close to the river.. I mean it is right on the river.. cross the road..jump in..