Just got word, My cousin lives in CR Iowa...had to evacuate yesterday their home is flooded clear to

[greenbriar]

the second floor



they don't know when they can go back

[bullwinkle428]

1. Have you had a chance to see pictures of the area?

http://www.gazetteonline.com/

It's absolutely awful...totally reminds me of New Orleans after Katrina...

[greenbriar]

4. yes

I am hearbroke for her



they built their dream house after 18 years of marriage, they just moved in before Christmas

[jobycom]

6. It does look like NOLA. So far I haven't heard of horrific casualties

so maybe at least that will turn out better. Are you in that area? Are they getting help any quicker? Are people able to get to a safe place, or are they trapped as in NOLA? I haven't seen enough reporting to understand the scale of this.

I have to admit, I'm surprised by the low coverage of this. I know it's not as many people as New Orleans, but even so, it's not getting as much coverage as it should, and that could mean CR and other areas won't get as much help as it needs.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. On purpose, they learned their lessons from NOLA

and one of them was getting them pesky fereigners help

Last thing they want is that coming back

(edited for clarity)

[CoffeeCat]

12. Yes, but Chertoff is taking credit...

...for helping out Iowans.

I am in Des Moines, and constantly reading about CR, Iowa City and the Des Moines situations, as well
as talking with people who live in these flood-ravaged areas. I haven't seen anything from FEMA.

Chertoff said these things in this article, "...that the movement of federal assistance, from water to food to coordination with local officials, was much quicker than after Katrina."

Another quote from the article, "Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the federal government is on top of its game in responding to the massive flooding in the Midwest."

I hope other Iowans chime in on this--because the only FEMA story I've seen is about Bruce Braley asking
FEMA for housing assistance for Iowans. If they were providing help, that would be a big story. I might
have missed something.

I hope this administration isn't playing games. After reading that they staged equipment in the NOLA
waters when Bush visited NOLA--then took the equipment after Bush flew back---I'm wondering if they're
doing their smoke-and-mirrors tap dance.

[bullwinkle428]

14. I'm not seeing JACK as far as actual help from FEMA right now,

at least in terms of what is being reported by the local media. The local TV stations have been doing a great job, providing nearly 24-hour coverage up until just about an hour ago or so. I know they would have had all kinds of footage if FEMA actually had DONE something!

The National Guard has been involved here in Coralville/Iowa City, so I won't criticize them at all, but FEMA's only appearance was Chertoff at a press conference, from what I could tell!

[CoffeeCat]

16. That's exactly what I'm seeing as well!

I live 2 miles from Saylorville lake/dam. Saylorville is the large
body of water that is feeding the flood waters into the Des Moines river---which
is causing all of the flooding in the Des Moines area.

We drive to Saylorville at least once a day, listen to the news and talk regularly
with friends and others in Des Moines.

I haven't seen one FEMA official on the ground.

It would be big news if they were here!

It looks like Chertoff is trying to take credit--when they haven't done anything!

The good people of Iowa (including yourself) are the reason that things are going so well.
Volunteers are sandbagging. There is a central Website that lists where volunteers are needed, and
supplies that people want. I am proud of Iowans. They have answered the call. It's because of
their integrity and compassion that this catastrophe isn't spinning off additional problems.

[jobycom]

17. FEMA's not always really visible. A lot of what they do is coordinate.

They don't have legions of trained rescuers sitting around waiting for deployment. They coordinate resources already at the site, and distribute funds and supplies, and stuff. So what you see aren't a lot of FEMA jackets but National Guardsmen and doctors and volunteers handing out supplies, coordinated and funded through FEMA management. So they may be there more than you notice. Their real job is to fill in the holes where local and state resources aren't enough, not to take the place of the state and local operations.

Still, you'd see or hear something, I would think.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. There is something else going on

during NOLA they became targets due to the incompetence, and some even shed their shirts and jackets

They tend to be visible at COORDINATION and COMMUNICATION centers, but they also have places for people to go file for federal help, This is retail and it is very visible.

Trust me I know how they supposed to work

[jobycom]

22. I trust you.

:)

[BalancedGoat]

27. Linn county has yet to be added to the list of Federal disaster areas.

Without that, I'm not sure that FEMA can really do much at this point; at least, for Cedar Rapids.

[TXDemGal]

19. When do they EVER do anything other than their smoke 'n mirrors tap dance? n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Before bush took over

they were VERY EFFICIENT and you even saw the jackets.

Now after NOLA.. that is a different story

[jobycom]

23. Remember Bush praising FEMA during the 2000 debates?

He told Gore that FEMA was one thing the Clinton administration did well, not realizing that Gore had been the one to re-organize it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. I remember that, and they need to be reorganized again

[bullwinkle428]

13. I live in a town about 15 miles south of Cedar Rapids -

this town is on a high bluff, well above the river valleys where the Cedar & Iowa, so we were really fortunate as far as the flood waters.

I think that everyone was able to move out and away from the flood waters pretty quickly, once they realized the seriousness of the situation. The water situation is the worst thing happening right now, as they're only running at 25% of capacity. They desperately needed volunteers last night to keep something called a "suction well" going. If that became flooded, it would have shut the water down completely, but they had 1200 PEOPLE show up to help, and ended up turning people away as they had more than enough to cover the task!

The lack of national coverage of this has really been pathetic...very lazy reporting by the media.

[jobycom]

2. Good! The good news outweighs the bad, at least. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. At least they got out with their skin

hugs...

[lonestarnot]

5. Ahhhh no. I was looking at pics and it is heartbreaking. I wish I could

do something. I don't know what it would be. Did she have insurance they could somehow cheat her from collecting?

[greenbriar]

8. I don't know

I haven't been able to talk to her, just her sister and my aunt

[lonestarnot]

15. All the bullshit insurance lies will start on Monday.

[jobycom]

18. The magnifying glasses will come out to reveal the print in the margins. nt

[lonestarnot]

28. If anyone was lucky enough to get out without a soaked legible copy of in the margins!

:cry:

[alfredo]

9. This is horrible. If you live down the Mississippi, be ready, you are

next. Hope those new levees in NO work.

[uppityperson]

10. Oh dang, it is quite a mess there.

I must say that I am pleased that I haven't seen the "why do people build where they may get (fill in disaster)" line on DU. Hoping it hasn't been posted, hoping people see that everywhere has issues and we need to work together to help each other out. That said, at this point there is not probably much of us can do, please let us know when there is. I hope the storms stop soon, or at least slow down.

[CoffeeCat]

11. I'm so sorry about your cousin, greenbriar...

What part of CR do they live in?

Do they have somewhere to stay?

I grew up in CR and I know the area fairly well. The pictures are heartbreaking.

I'm so sorry about your cousin. Please let us know if there's something they
need or something we can do for them. I'm in Des Moines, but if I can help
somehow, I will.

Please keep us posted about your cousin.

I heard that the water has receded about 6 inches, but it is expected to be high for a while.
It is good news that the water is going down.

[greenbriar]

25. I am not sure, I have never been there.

I will let you know whenever I find out anything. Right now they are at a hotel...they don't know what they are going to do right now.

[OzarkDem]

26. Sorry for their misfortune

Was looking at news photos earlier. What a disaster! And who knows how much help they'll get with so much of our resources over in Iraq.