For those of you who think historic floods in the Midwest are less important than

[Skidmore]

a journalist's death, check back with me later when you food prices are really sky high. The agricultural belt is inundated. The season for planting is past and the fields in much of the area have been too wet to get into from just the rains let alone the flood waters. Check back with me when all those lost homes and businesses put a further drain on the economy. We'll tough it out. Midwesterners are pretty stalwart and tend to suck it up and help each other out. We've generously shipped food and supplies and talent all over the world in the time of disasters for others. Now I feel badly for the Russert family and his friends and coworkers, but right now we have friends and family who are losing their livelihoods and homes. A little empathy and recognition of this tragedy by the nation would be nice.

I am unapologetic about this rant and, in retrospect, the only thing different I would include would be numerous expletives to be deleted.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Some perspective is definitely in order

Right now my No. 1 concern is the ongoing disaster in the Midwest and the repercussions that will follow.

[FMArouet]

142. Today Bush will have tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle.

Here is a link. Bush will no doubt provide another excellent photo opportunity to juxtapose with scenes of flooding, this time from the Midwest.

Three years ago Bushed was photographed having a birthday cake with John McCain on Auust 29th as Katrina ravaged New Orleans.

You would think that even someone as dim and tone-deaf as Bush could eventually learn, but he just doesn't seem to care.

[ThatsMyBarack]

145. Welcome to DU, FMArouet!

:hi:

(Once again, Nero fiddles while Rome burns. Surprise, surprise. :eyes:)

[babylonsister]

2. You're preaching to the choir. I think m$m is going way overboard

on this tribute while excluding the important news, like the flooding.

[emmadoggy]

27. I'm not so sure, Babylonsister.....

Last night a quick perusal of the Greatest page had thread after thread after thread about Tim Russert and I found only.....what was it? I think two or maybe three threads that were related to the Midwest flooding.

And one of those two or three was a post relating a Digby entry about how the Russert coverage was usurping the flood coverage. So, technically, that's only half-flood related.

[Joe the Revelator]

111. Everybody BUT MSNBC has been reporting on the floods all day

MSNBC is, quite obviously, close to the Russert story. They can do what they want to do this weekend.

[MnFats]

113. Russert is a story for a couple of days...flood coverage is long haul..

...
i think the newsies in this part of the country will get back to it once Russert is buried.
i write this as the second band of thunderstorms have passed over the upper mississippi watershed, adding a half-inch of rain to the already saturated soil....

many farmers are 40 to 60 percent out of a crop already, and some have gotten such heavy rain that some are wiped out...and all this new stuff is going to head south....


want something else to worry about? they keep finding bridges that are fucked.
they had to close the bridge at Winona, main link to LaCrosse, and local governments are paying for a ferry service.
can't blame it all on the floods but i have a hunch more are going to be taken out of service...some, in the nick of time and some, maybe, not in time at aall.

[mwb970]

133. It's just MSNBC that is still stuck on Russert.

I guess they feel they owe it to him to suspend all news coverage and wallow in his death for days and days. Russert himself would be horrified at what they are doing. I stopped watching the sobathon Friday evening and have been on CNN since. I'll check each day to determine when MSNBC finally decides to cover the news again, then I'll go back.

[malaise]

3. Shhhhhhhhhhhhh

Don't interrupt the canonization of St Timmy....20 hours and counting.

[tom_paine]

15. Dio es un domine. Dona ae es requiem.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but still I am. Even at this late date, after all this, THE Toady Media is getting WORSE! MORE irrelevant, MORE clueless, MORE grotesquely self-absorbed, LESS informative, MORE disinformative.

KO and a handful of others not withstanding, who of course in spite of his rapidly growing popularity, has spawned no imitators in a clear disconnect from what would happen if the Toady Media actually WAS a "free market entity" not a propaganda machine for the Bushies and the Aristocracy.

Now we know, we KNOW in our marrow, how it felt to live in Nazi Germany. Without the violence, Thank God. Thank God the Bushies had to take their time, Thank God they dared not directly replicate Nazi methodology in the violence department. Then we would REALLY KNOW how it felt.

As it is, this taste (and it is much more than a mere "taste") is bad enough, nightmarish enough.

[malaise]

65. I can't believe it

I know they are scumbags but this is breathtakingly mnd blowing.

[bertman]

150. Don't worry. We'll know about the violence soon as Hopey wins. Maybe sooner.

[iamahaingttta]

152. What the fuck are you talking about?

"Hopey?"

[Berry Cool]

4. I'm from the Midwest, too.

And I don't sit in judgment on what is "more important" vs. "less important." I think there is room for it all.

My TV also offers me access to several news channels, including CNN, which has flood news on right now, as it so happens. If you want to watch flood news, I suggest you tune your own TV there, instead of preaching any further sermons to MSNBC about what they should be doing right now.

I am unapologetic about this rant and, in retrospect, the only thing different I would include would be numerous expletives to be deleted.

Now I am leaving this place and going to the West Side Market for a while...as it so happens.

[Skidmore]

7. We are watching local coverage, one channel has been broadcasting

on backup power for days now. When I flip to CNN, I have been greeted by handwringing commentators wondering what media will do without Russert. There is not coverage beyond local, not even the customary picking up of local coverage done during times of such large disasters.

I disagree heartily with you.

[Echo In Light]

57. Yeah, no one has showered at KCRG for days, apparently

[Shoelace]

98. and shaving with bottled water since Cedar Rapids, Iowa will run out of water Tuesday

by all accounts. I'm in Oregon, listening to KCRG for 2 days now and have thought that this forum would have much more about this catastrophic event. This is the worst flooding EVER in Iowa and it's effects are immediate. Corn went from 4 bucks a bushel to 7 bucks overnight yesterday just from the news of the floods.

Where's FEMA? Nobody seems to know. Why aren't folks paying attention? People are in dire straits in the Midwest. I'm heartened by all the responses here though.

[cascadiance]

110. How are KCRG employees getting in to work at the station?

Are they being boated there from a higher ground parking lot? I recall many years ago parking in an underground garage there when I worked there nearby in the areas where the streets are flooded now. If they are, my hats off to them even more for their efforts.

[PeaceNikki]

10. I am from one of the areas affected, too. And I agree.

I don't understand why people feel they need to stay tuned into MSNBC. Most people don't watch it 24-7. To a normal person to tunes it in for an hour a day, the coverage is probably seen as appreciated. Today I think most people would tune into MSNBC specifically to see coverage of Russert.

[defendandprotect]

120. And have you noticed them talking about . . . GLOBAL WARMING?????

The floods aren't the beginning and end of this --- it's about GLOBAL WARMING --

How many times have you heard that mentioned in the coverage?

How about nationalizing our oil?

How about electric cars?

Did they mention continuing Repug efforts to privatize Social Security --- ?

McCain's determination to overturn Roe Vs Wade?

The Fed still bailing out investment banks with out money?

Did you happen to see a coffin belonging to any of our dead soldiers today?

[1Hippiechick]

129. I saw a report last week in US News where NASA documented global warming and is charging W

administration with purposely ignoring the report and misleading the nation to believe that there IS no proof of GW. My older son is a Repuke (and I don't know HOW in the hell THAT happened - he's 35 and should know better!), unfortunately, and he makes fun of GW. My question to him and others, "What if you're wrong? By the time that is discovered, it will be too late."

[Theres-a]

5. It's a NATIONAL emergency.

Nothing less.Stay safe.

[ensho]

41. agree - it is a national emergency and it is not over yet!

it is not over!

[bjobotts]

99. In SW MO. This rain is not normal. It pours for hours and is flooding everything

Keep ignoring this emergency at your own peril. Speculators will use this as an opportunity to profiteer off of commodities driving food prices even higher. Congress could stop this practice which used to be illegal. It would take at least $2.50 off the price of a gallon of gas and drive food prices back down. But noooo...they are too busy trying to make sure Bush isn't impeached and they give him unchecked spying powers on Americans and telecom immunity and anything else he asks for so we think they are tough on national security.

Would anything of significance be any different if the GOP still had the majority in congress?

[Tutonic]

118. Its a National Disgrace.

Nancy Pelosi needs to be housed in close quarters with G.W.--so that she can fully appreciate the banality that is the moron!!! Levees collapsing, bridges falling, and dams failing are not acts of nature--the failure of assclown G.W. and his nurse Pelosi to fund infrastructure projects in key states is to blame. Now we know why impeachment is off of the table.

[Eurobabe]

6. thank you.

what I am hearing today is nauseating me.

Total lack of perspective. :eyes:

[Debi]

46. Locally it's 24/7 flood coverage and emergency information

local channel even pre-empted the Russert special and ran it at 5:00 AM Today.

If you really want more flood coverage you can go to the local TV stations web sites

Waterloo www.kwwl.com

Cedar Rapids/Iowa City www.kgan.com or www.kcrg.com

Des Moines www.kcci.com or www.whotv.com

[Eurobabe]

127. You staying safe Debi?

Hearts go out to all Iowa Du'ers. :hug: :grouphug:

[Debi]

148. Oh, yeah - A little hairy Monday night/Tuesday during the day

but since then the water has been going down. We were able to go into work for a bit on Friday even. Although most businesses were closed since they had water or no power.

Folks have been posting updates in the Iowa Forum. www.essentialestrogen.come and www.IowaIndependant.com have been doing a good job too.

[Frustratedlady]

8. You are right on! We haven't been totally hit yet, but a few more days....

...and the Mississippi River will be hit hard with all the feeders emptying into it. We already have a lot of flooding, but there is certainly more to come.

I don't think people realize the consequences of this flood. Even before the flood, the fields were inundated from rain after rain. Farmers were replanting or switching to soybeans, but even the beans will be stunted.

Add Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin to the equation and that breadbasket of the world is going to be empty.

Not only should we be concerned about the loss of crops, but that will trickle down to the farmers who decide not to raise cattle/hogs because of the cost of feed.

I was watching a clip on barge traffic and how much that is affecting the economy. One barge owner (Alter) said it is costing him $10K per day not to be able to operate. The electric companies have coal now, but how much longer can they survive without barge delivery? Coal by rail is slower and more expensive. One point I did disagree with was their lamenting that they couldn't get the corn/soybeans delivered for shipments to China. I think it's time we hold onto the corn/soybeans until we see how the U.S. is going to fare.

I suppose one good thing about the flood is the boost to the appliance/heating/air conditioning businesses, as most of those basements that are full of water had, at the least, a furnace and water heater. I should think the insurance companies would be about to come to their knees and shout "Uncle" with all the disasters we've had this summer. Incredible, for sure.

[madrchsod]

17. rail coal deliveries has reached capacity on the up line

i`m not sure if the other rail..cp and bnsf have the ability to move coal. it`s not going to be pretty for the next couple of months

[Debi]

47. Waterloo railroad bridge and Cedar Rapids railroad bridge destroyed

:scared:

Just ran into folks from Cedar Rapids - up here to buy water...no kidding...travelling to Waterloo from Cedar Rapids to buy water x(

[defendandprotect]

121. Right there, another issue --- INFRASTRUCTURE . . .

With the withdrawal of taxes from the wealthy our towns, communties, states are suffering
with budgets not sufficient to cover needs ---

Our infrastructure is already in dire need of repairs --- neglected for decades now!!!

Anyone on TV telling you that?

And now all of this damage --- personal, as well, of course --- just look at the cars/homes!!!

[Debi]

135. Although I don't disagree that infrastructure has suffered - these bridges collapsing

had everything to do with historic flood levels and not so much to do with ill-repair or lack of inspection.

[Skidmore]

128. We have had no rail traffic through here in days, and the trains

carry our grains to and from market as well as other goods. Quite often they are loaded with semitrailers. Combined with the cessation of barge activity on the Mississippi and the increased prices in air shipping, you can bet that goods will take a share turn upward.

This morning we have severe thunderstorms again and more coming in the forecast for later today.

[newfie11]

136. And where is FEMA!!

Why aren't they around to pass out drinking water.

[Debi]

146. Because the Red Cross is?

I'm not defending FEMA but communities are coordinating w/the Red Cross and w/each other to ensure that food/water/shelter is being provided.

[xiamiam]

154. blessings to all in iowa..nor cal here..we've had fires..havent seen anything like it

its only june..many have lost their homes in unprecedented fires..i've lived here 34 years and have never seen these redwood forests blazing...we've had 2 major fires in less than 2 weeks in different parts of santa cruz county...several communities in butte county also evacuated and homes lost..los padres forest which is maybe 50 or so miles south had burned 18k acres and the smoke and ash on friday had turned the sky a strange golden brown...eerie...we didnt get much rain this spring so the hills are parched which usually doesnt happen until the fall...the firefighters have been unbelievable heroes throughout this..seems they are just relocating to one fire after another..

[msongs]

9. floods pass and the soil is refreshed. death is final nt

[tom_paine]

19. Ummmm...how 'bout those of us Little People dying in the floods?

Don't bother answering. You know as well as I that modern Imperial Amerika is not about liberty, equality, and justice, it is about wealth and privilege now, and one Russert dead is equal to a million flood victims.

Don't blame me, blame reality.

[Lorien]

53. In the eyes of the MSM what you say is certainly true

I was listening to a story about the floods on NPR, and at the top of the hour their first news announcment was about Russert. Same news announcement as yesterday.

And people wonder why storm victims get so little help anymore from agencies like FEMA. There's so little national focus on them that the government feels it can get by with ignoring them!

[defendandprotect]

122. Global Warming is not a passing thing ---

but lack of food and weather can bring us all death rather quickly!!!

[madrchsod]

11. you are right

although we have`t been hit as hard as eastern iowa or southern wisconsin, northern illinois has had it`s share of flooded fields so it`s a waiting game to see how our fields will respond.

southern wisconsin has lost thousands of acres of vegetable acreage along with hay,bean,and corn.milk producers are facing washed out roads and pasture, and the price milk products from wisconsin is going to sky rocket.

another thing that no one has mentioned is the high cost of rebuilding dams, roads,bridges,homes and business in relation to the price of diesel fuel and the cost of building materials.

[Skidmore]

13. Absolutely. The amount of infrastructure that is being destroyed is huge.

And these rural states get the short end of the stick most of the time anyway.

[madrchsod]

18. there`s a good chance that many areas in wisconsin

dropped the fema coverage..http://www.madison.com/wsj/index.php

[RayOfHope]

25. I lived near a river bottom in 93 in MO. The floods were *terrible* on ag

where I was, as the flooding left a bunch of sand in the fields.

[Debi]

48. 1993 was when the republican controlled congress decided that the only way

flood and other disaster relief could be provided by the government was to cut the spending in some other programs to find the money.

x( wonder where the spending will be cut this time???!!!

[EV_Ares]

12. Right-on Skidmore, want you to know there are those of us who are with

you and this is no disrespect to Russert but just stating a fact. I think the press is trying to use this as well for their own image which was tainted when Scotty boy brought to light their complacency in the Iraq war. They have since then been trying to deny and defend themselves.

[dmr]

44. I was thinking the same thing n/t

[KharmaTrain]

14. Covering The Flood Requires Journalism

The cable networks don't rely on journalism as much as pontification. Media consolidation has turned the center of the news universe in the eyes and ears of a precious few networks and 24/7 cable channels that see news as a product...and one that has to be spiced up to sell. It's one where "if it bleeds it leads"...where complex issues take a back seat to a sound bite or video snippet and where real reporting is a drain on resources where "analysis" fills hours of airtime rather than real reporting.

The news departments at most networks have downsized and cheapened the product that covering a story is based on convenience rather than journalistic value or even viewer importance. Covering a tragic flood that is ravaging hundreds of miles and thousands of lives is not as convenient as "analyzing" the loss and importance of a member of their own. It's easier to get a panel of talking heads to tell Russert stories than it is to get reports from inside Iraq or Afghanistan or even Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Hell, they even beg for viewers to send in their pictures...cause they're too cheap to have their own crews on site.

I remember Vietnam coverage where the networks had reporters in the battle zones constantly filing reports...good and bad...bringing a war home that educated a nation into the horrors of confict...you rarely see this type of coverage now as networks see such reporting as both an economic and political liability. They don't want the negative publicity of losing a reporter or having the next "Peter Arnett" on their staff. It's a lot easier just to burn up the hours with the usual beltway suspects bantering around one political football or another.

[Frustratedlady]

22. I wonder how much of this Russert reporting is "interviewing" for his job?

They seem to be battling to make the most memorable dedication clip to Russert and I sometimes feel like they are playing to the front office.

I liked Russert and truly regret his early demise...I keep thinking of his family, but especially his father and son with Father's Day this weekend...but I think they could put his passing in perspective. Six more days and he'll tie Reagan.

[crickets]

88. That type of unslanted coverage required integrity

It was also possible because the news departments had not yet been folded into the for-profit entertainment sector. When news became for profit, it was no longer about information and public service. It became a commodity, to be bought and sold like everything else. Bleh.

[Delphinus]

103. Journalism.

I had to laugh a bit - I was somewhere yesterday when Inside Edition came on and the anchor (not Norville) said, something like, "It's a sad day today - we lost one of our own - journalist Tim Russert". I never would have put Inside Edition in the category as journalism. I must be showing my age.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. The death of a celebrity sells more beer and toothpaste than mere floods.

[Dorian Gray]

20. I agree

that the floods are indeed horrible and dangerous. I think that the ramifications will hurt us for a long time after they are finished. It's truly tragic, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is suffering.

I don't agree, however, that the news coverage of these floods needs to be compared to Russert's death. They are both horrible things, and they both deserve coverage. Neither one occurs in a vacuum, and they both affect a lot of people.

[PeaceNikki]

21. Is it POSSIBLE that most people are tuning into MSNBC specifically to see coverage of Russert?

I don't understand why people feel they need to stay tuned into MSNBC. Most people don't watch it 24-7. To a normal person to tunes it in for an hour a day, the coverage is probably appreciated.

[Skidmore]

23. I'm not tuned to MSNBC.

I'm watching local channels for the flood coverage, but when I've check cable channels, and not just MSNBC, I find discussion of Russert. In fact I just switched over to CNN a short while ago and they were talking about Russert.

[PeaceNikki]

24. Huh. I'm watching CNN

They're leading story on the hour is the floods :shrug:

[Debi]

49. Where are you at? Are you getting flooded?

We were just at the store to buy storage containers/a shop vac/garbage bags/water. I swear everybody there was doing the same thing (and buying cleaning supplies too).

Then we all gathered at the card isle. Poor Mr. Debi and all the Dads in Iowa - "Happy Father's Day - here's a new pair of work gloves and waders!"

(keep the recipt - so we can give it to FEMA....)

[Blue Gardener]

54. I told my Dad I will not be visiting him on Father's Day

He is in Marion, I am in Coralville. The normal 30 minute trip up I-380 now requires an almost 300 mile detour to Des Moines and back through Waterloo.

[Debi]

56. Yeah, and driving with 30,000 of your neighbors! Better to stay home

and celebrate Father's Day when it's dryer.

I told my Dad I couldn't send his gift and card b/c neither of my post offices were open (and I couldn't get out of my neighborhood anyway). Didn't matter to him - we give him golf balls every year and it was snowing in Montana the day I called. x(

Sounds like Marion didn't get hit too hard - how much water did you get?

[Blue Gardener]

62. My house is fine

I'm quite a ways from the river. Much of the Coralville strip is under water though. Many business will be shut down for quite some time.

[Skidmore]

66. We come into IC/Coralville to shop for groceries and other supplies.

With so many roads cut off, I've been thinking that some products may be hard to come by for a while. I hope Culver has the Atty General on watch for price gouging statewide. SO many counties are affected.

[Debi]

79. Yeah, downtown Waterloo too

but not as bad as CR.

[Skidmore]

63. We aren't getting mail in and out since our mail is processed through

CR.

We were supposed to go to Chicago this next week but it won't happen. Our little granddaughter will go into the hospital for some tests and we were going to help with child care for her siblings. We're certainly happy her other grandparents are nearby so they will take over. I'm just anxious and worried. It has not been a good year. The winter sucked bigtime and the spring has been worse.

[Blue Gardener]

75. I guess we shouldn't have complained about all the snow

Now look what happened!

[Debi]

78. The last three weeks made me forget about all those ice storms last winter

x(

[Skidmore]

82. I wish I could say the same.

We had just finished making repairs from the ice storm damage about 3 weeks ago in time to get more damage from storm winds last week.

[Debi]

87. Again we seemed to luck out - lost power for half a day

that was it. Our drive was an ice rink and didn't melt until March or so. Driving was crazy. Had the deep freeze stocked with burger/chicken breasts/fish/shrimp and well as chicken noodle soup/beef stew/chili. Knew we could huddle up and hunker down for a few days if needed.

Did you see what's hapening around Grundy Center and Marshalltown? High winds/hail/heavy rain. Tornado warning in Tama County. Tornado sirens going off in Black Hawk County but it seems to be just a glitch. We've got clouds and wind but nothing else. Geez x(

[Skidmore]

61. We personally are not

flooded, but have friends and relatives who are--neighbors a little further down the road have been flooded. I don't think it will make it this far though, but then again I could be wrong. So much has defied conventional wisdom this year. We've had plenty of seepage in the basement and if our sump pump can keep up, I think we'll be fine. My husband's workplace is flooding as we speak and he and his coworkers have spent the past week getting the place ready. We are however cut off on every road to any population center so if we need anything that we don't have in supply in our home (and we tend to stock supplies), we may have a problem.

[Debi]

77. Yep, that was us Tuesday (unless we wanted to go 25 miles around to get to our start point)

through Thursday. Our basement is already dry (except for the carpet which is on it's way out).

Hope your supplies hold. We almost had a 'neighborhood' cookout Tuesday night (there is a 2 mile spread - we live in little groups 1/2 mile from each one) going through the contents of each of our deep freezers. I offered up the chili I made the night before the tornado hit us, someone else had chicken breasts for grilling and others had burger. Instead we all went home exhausted. At least we all know that there's food down the road if we need it!

Good luck to you and your friends.

[knitter4democracy]

26. Many of them are the same ones who told Michigan to go suck it.

We're dying a slower economic death (though some areas are flooded but not anywhere near as badly) up here, and when our votes were taken away from us, we were told to suck it and that we deserved it when we, the voters, had absolutely nothing to do with what happened and even tried to stop it.

They don't give a shit about the Midwest. Another city is drowning, levees are breaking, and no one outside of the Midwest seems to give a rat's ass. I've been worried sick for friends in IA, and I'm going to see what we can do here in Michigan to help. I helped with the flood cleanup in '93, and if my health were better, I'd be doing it again.

[Tashca]

28. I understand......

I don't watch cable news. I gave up on that several years ago. I don't need to be told how to think. So with that said I can't relate to that part of your frustration.
You are about to be hit with a flood that is going to be devastating for your town. I remember the last couple of days before it went out of control here in Cedar Rapids. I spent days sandbagging and trying to stay calm. The small town I helped with is completely inundated. I think I know what your feeling. Then to see that on TV when your world is on the verge of collapse. It's heart wrenching. You are going to be watching devastation coming to your community on the news the next few days.
Hang in there......One person can not stop what is about to happen. You are going to be surprised at the way people will help each other..
We have been gutting our basement the last two days. We have been filling dumpsters. The neighbors have been beyond helpful.

Now the Crop situation.....I can't speak for the whole corn belt, but it is going to have a huge negative and long lasting impact in this area. I am an Agronomist. I've been doing this for 30 years and have not witnessed anything close. It's much worse then 93...at least in my trade area.

Ag Infrastructure?.....Just in Cedar Rapids alone....Quaker Oats....General Mills...Penford....ADM.....Cargill....and it goes on and on. I don't think this country has grasped the impact this is going to have on everyone else in this country.

Hang in there....:pals:

[kickitup]

30. Thanks

for your comments. I too have been frustrated with the lack of coverage because I'm afraid this is going to have a huge economic impact and our fellow citizens are suffering. I'm thankful that at least there hasn't been a huge loss of life. Now, I have a selfish question. Would it be smart to go stock up on grains or would that be alarmist? How bad do you really think the impact on agriculture is going to be?

[Tashca]

51. alarmist

We are not going to run out. I do feel confident that the prices will continue up.

There is already a contingency plan if there is a shortage.....That was announced something like 60 days ago. For instance if corn gets short the Ethanol plants will be the first to be shut off.
It isn't like this crop reduction hasn't been seen coming for weeks. It's just now hitting the MSM.

[Skidmore]

69. My concern is that people are already stretched

with existing prices. Increases in food costs and other products from agriculture, especially in this area where jobs are being wiped out right now, will be a huge blow.

I'm not claiming to be an economist but common sense tells me that there will be a long row to hoe after the waters recede.

[Tashca]

72. I am very concerned too

It is coming....I have no doubt!!

But people need to prepare....make changes. Get out of their mindsets of hoping it won't happen.

In my earlier post I just listed basically the companies that are in the food business. Of course many many other companies are affected.

That rail road bridge that got knocked out here was a vital link for some Ag businesses. The job loss is going to be more than we can imagine.
I just came by the Quaker Oats Facility. I saw a huge cement silo which had burst in two about halfway up.....there where thousands of bushels of oats covering rail cars and sitting in the flood. Maybe this has been reported already......I don't know.
All I can figure out is that the river got so high it reached into the grain and the grain wicked the water up and swelled. I've never seen a cement silo do that before. I have to assume all that storage and the grain inside is ruined......
I'm not sure we can even imagine what the local impact will be.......
We'll get through it....somehow.....we always do!!

[Skidmore]

81. Wow! I had not seen that news about the silo.

I'll bet all that grain swelling with moisture helped it along if there were any structural problems with it.

[Tashca]

84. I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was split right in half about halfway up...50 feet up maybe....and leaning. There were oats spread all over the place. I have to wonder about all those other silo's?....and the grain they might contain??
When we drove by it was done spilling out.
I can't imagine how long it will be to get these places up and running again.....better get your Captain Crunch!!
I does look like the water has dropped about four feet....at the current rate in two days we will be down to 93 levels..

[Debi]

50. Are you and Mrs. B safe and dry???

:hi:

[Tashca]

52. Yes...thanks fo asking

I'm sorry I wasn't quicker.....Mrs. B got a call and the electricity was shut down on the south side of CR.....here computer room was looking like meltdown. We got here and she was coordinating with Omaha on the shutdown. This will effect a production facility in Texas and one in North Carolina....it's amazing the impact this is having. I went with her, but of course am no help with the technology.....
We did get our basement flooded...lost alot and have been stripping it to get everything dried as quickly as possible. Actually we don't feel that bad because so many have it so much worse.

Again...thank you for asking...:)

[emmadoggy]

29. I'm with you, Skidmore.

:(

[kentuck]

31. I don't think it is entirely fair...

to say that the people who worked with an important journalist would not react in the same way as the rest of us if we lost a friend. They are in shock and are trying to assimilate what has happened. It is not like every network is filled with the news. I think we need to be more understanding. There is enough room and sympathy for both stories.

[Dreamer Tatum]

32. Apples and oranges

A celebrity death is a discrete event in time, and Russert's passing would have been far less
sensational here at DU had the usual suspects not done their standard St. Peter act, drawing up his final balance
sheet.

The events in the Midwest, like it or not, are abstract to people in different places under different
circumstances. Nevertheless, the story will continue to make it out, and aid from the outside will
come in.

The floods affect millions directly for a long time, but Russert's death also affected millions for a very short
and pre-emptive time. I don't think anyone in their right mind would claim that Russert's death is more important
than an historic flood that will directly alter the lives of hundreds of thousands.

I say this having lived through several hurricanes, a few (considerably lesser) floods, and a couple of evacuations
due to wildfire.

[Leftist Agitator]

33. Amen.

Who needs a Dust Bowl for our generation's Great Depression when you have catastrophic innundation from above instead?

:shrug:

The rain is passing over WV right now, and I'll tell you, if it rained like this for days on end in the Midwest, it's surprising that the flooding wasn't worse.

Just another little gem for life in these Bush-borne United States in this foul year of our Lord, 2008.

[Bandit]

34. Think of how contaminated that soil will be after the water resides

The flood in the Centralia Washington area last year devastated their fields and killed thousands of livestock. Their fields are still very contaminated. Think about all the poisons that get picked up with the flood waters and gets spread onto everything. This flood will have lasting effect..

[ensho]

42. true

nt

[mudesi]

35. Not to mention the larger issue of global warming (nm)

[potone]

36. I'm with you, Skidmore.

I grew up in the Midwest, and it is true that that area of the country, which is vital for agriculture, gets little attention from the media. From what I can gather, and it isn't easy to find out much from TV news, this is a major disaster. Hang in there. When this first flurry of attention to Russert is over, the press will start to pay more attention, and the rest of the country will realize what you are going through.

[JVS]

37. I'm just waiting for the Californians to chime in that the midwest deserves it for hogging the water

[SpookyCat]

73. ????????????

I'm native Californian, born and raised in the Bay Area, I have never in my life heard anyone make that claim.

We bitch about L.A. periodically, mostly out of habit, but not the mid west. Plus I don't think too many of us would be so callous as to say the mid west "deserves" this. Your comment just confuses me.

[JVS]

74. I saw a lot of grumbling from some of the posters here when MI and some other midwestern states...

pointed out that the great lakes were not available to irrigate the dry parts of the American Southwest.

[SpookyCat]

80. Ok, none the wiser...

Sorry, that doesn't make sense to me, that statement. What I read originally was Californians were going to say Mid West deserved this because they take our water? Wait, or that people in arid western areas wanted Great Lakes water to help our droughts? Is that what you mean? Did someone actually say that?

I'm asking Comrade Snarky here who is from Texas, if he's ever heard anyone from there suggest they would have claim to the Great Lakes, and he's looking at me like I'm mad. (jury is out, but not on this issue..LOL)

I'm just really baffled by that. If some random Californian actually suggested what you are saying, said person might be a nutter. Or just desperately trying to find something to be angry about.

Usually we Northern Californians use L.A. for that.

(edited for "for")

[JVS]

83. You obviously missed this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3343888

[MedleyMisty]

85. It's like all the hatred of the South, though

It only happens in the enclosed world of DU, not in the real world. Like earlier this year when we had a drought here, in the real world people just hoped for rain and never even thought about or mentioned the Great Lakes. Just like I've never met with any regional bigotry directed towards the South in real life.

I think it's just people posting flamebait to disrupt DU, personally.

[SpookyCat]

89. At the risk of a deleted sub-thread..

No, I didn't see that thread, but I read it now.

Still not seeing Californians insisting we get Great Lakes water, not one.

Rather, I read a lot of people who are saying if you chose to live in arid climates, eff-you!

And I read this wonderful post from "bean fidhleir"

"The only people who have the right to live there are those willing to live within the natural constraints of the environment. Our delusional hubris is killing everyone around us and we *must* abandon it if we want to stay in business as a species."

Simple common sense. There should be no golf courses or green lawns in the desert, period.

Again, not one time in my entire life (40 years) have I heard anyone here suggest that we take Great Lakes water. I have however, encountered people from elsewhere in these great states who have an irrational hatred for California, and all our surfers, hippies, yuppies...fill in your particular rage...

I remain confused by your statement, but tip my hat to you sir/madam, and go on my way. I have a graduation party to get to for my friends kids, but first I must put on my love beads, pack my surfboard into the VW van and leave the sprinklers on my lush green lawn.

:rofl:

(all joking aside, I did just finish drinking a latte...I am a cliche!)

[JVS]

91. there are a couple of people in there who lay claim to the great lakes water.

naming them here would be a calling out.

[heliarc]

105. Angeleno here...

Thanks for railing on us again... I like San Francisco, just not rich enough to enjoy life up there.

[SpookyCat]

117. I wasn't railing...just a throw away joke...

Sorry if you were offended, that was certainly not my intention!

:hi:

I find the whole "rivalry" thing between SF and LA to be funny and nonsensical.

Mostly I was trying to defend Californians. I'm 3rd Gen up here, so it's home to my core.

[1Hippiechick]

130. "I find the whole "rivalry" thing between SF and LA to be funny and nonsensical. "

Know nothing about your rivalry, but it saddens me to think that with all this infighting among towns and races, how do we ever expect our country to come together, much less the world? We have lost our vision of what is truly important.

:scared:

[Individualist]

38. K&R. Excellent rant!

[kdmorris]

39. I have a client in Decatur, IL

I actually have been paying more attention to the floods. Mainly because working with these people has given me a lot of perspective on my own political beliefs. Behind every hated corporation are a bunch of people who just want to feed their families and live their lives. And they watched their lives literally floating away last week. It's hard, in this economy, to watch your livelihood be destroyed by floods, or fires, or hurricanes, or tornadoes.

And FEMA sure as hell isn't going to help them. I really feel for them. You can hear the despair in their voices when you talk to them. To them, it's not about sky high food prices. For them, it's that they may lose their jobs and their homes. They may not be able to buy food at all next winter. My thoughts are with them today, with my sister in OK, and all the people whose lives have actually been made worse by Tim Russert covering up the truth of what our government was doing to us. I can feel sympathy for the family of Mr. Russert while still acknowledging that he was NOT a great man.

No need to apologize about your rant. Sometimes perspective needs to be smacked upside someone's head.

[ensho]

40. agree - CNN is so not covering the flood that I'm suspicious

nt

[AngryOldDem]

58. That seems to be the MO.

If it happens in the Midwest, it isn't important. Up until this year's record severe weather, tornadoes and floods rarely got much notice out here. Contrast that to snowstorms that affect NYC, which are breathlessly covered as if it's the Apocalypse and as if New Yorkers haven't come through such events unscathed.

It only becomes important, it seems, when it directly affects the East Coast, or the anchors personally.

Skidmore's right...this flood will send prices (food and everything else) sky high. It is a domino effect that many can't see until it happens.

[progressoid]

43. Corn prices are already on the rise.

[vanboggie]

45. You're right Skidmore

The gas prices were bad enough, but now the flooding? Most people have no idea how that food ends up on their grocery shelves, and they won't pay attention till sticker shock is in front of them. I'm even more worried about how I'm going to feed my horses next year :(

[lame54]

55. It's a good thing they've been voting Republican all these years...

It's about to pay off

[Echo In Light]

60. Actually Iowa usually goes D - election hyjinks in 04 steered rightward

[lame54]

70. You're right, interesting...

http://www.270towin.com/states/Iowa
They were R until Bush 1 and have been D since - What happened in 2004?

[Skidmore]

67. Well, a visit from Grover.

Love your handle... it seems appropriate.

[lame54]

68. Thanks skidmarks

[Blue Gardener]

59. I'm with you Skidmore

Wait until people run out of their Captain Crunch and Quaker Instant Oatmeal because Quaker Oats is flooded. Unfortunately, many will not grasp how devastating this has been to Iowa, but will only bitch because they can't find their favorite cereal at the supermarket.

[Desertrose]

64. Good point Skidmore.....

My heart goes out to all affected by the floods...prime farmland. Very sad.

I remember when we went through a horrible wildfire season about two years ago. It goes beyond devastating a single family.... it changes, in life & death way, an entire community & geographic area for a long time to come.

[City Lights]

71. I'm with you, Skidmore.

After what seemed like never-ending Russert coverage, I finally resorted to the Internet last night and got updates via a live feed from a Cedar Rapids news site. I could not believe what I saw. And I know it's going to get worse before it gets better. :-( :hug:

[Truth2Tell]

76. The flooding is a bigger story

But neither one makes my top 10 list for the week.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

86. 24,000 people forced from their homes and billions of dollars in damage in Iowa alone

That, excluding the impact it will have on food prices, is enough reason to be seriously concerned.

Russert's untimely death was a surprise. I feel for his family who must be tragically shocked, but all the hoopla over it in the press and here is way overdone.

[Disturbed]

90. Busholini is enjoying his Euro Vacation.

FEMA is useless, as the RWing want it to be.

[ananda]

116. Bush is palling with his neonazi buds Berlusconi, Ratzy, and Sarkoma.

nt

[happyiowan]

92. A little heartbreaking here in Iowa City

Today is the first day I've felt so down about all of this. I can't tell you how hard everyone has been working. No matter how hard we work, the water keeps winning. The arts campus at The University has flooding in every building. FEMA? Who's that? We had twenty-thirty National Guard on Wednesday and Thursday - that's it. Cedar Rapids water supply is devastated. I could go on forever. My husband has been doing nothing but filling sandbags for four days. He just rode off on his bike with a shovel to help at a new site.

I love Iowa. I love the way we take care of ourselves, but mercy, just once it would be nice if we could get a bit of hand.

And the thunder just started as new storms rolls in. Forty percent chance of rain today and in ten minutes it will be pouring again.

[Tashca]

95. I know exactly what you mean.

I'm just north of you. Most of my family lives just alittle south of your town.
Hang in there....I was doing good, then this damn rain came on again. I lost it there for alittle while.
I was going to head down to Hills yesterday to help but was afraid I would get stuck down there...I would have with the road closures.
Tell your husband....thank you....from another Iowan who does understand.

[Blue Gardener]

106. Travel around here is so messed up

I'm almost afraid to go across town, which is on the opposite side of the Iowa River, for fear I might not get back home. The I-80 bridge is now the only way to get between IC and Coralville. I hear they are closing the downtown bridges.

[Tutonic]

126. Its a Disgrace, He's a Disgrace

It--George W. Bush is a national disgrace...twenty to thirty National Guard???*%$# I could round up more family members! Nancy Pelosi needs to have her eyelids taped to her forehead so that she is forced to look at the destruction she is allowing to overtake the state of Iowa by failing to impeach "IT."

[Habibi]

137. Iowa City is such a lovely town.

I have a couple of friends there, but I'm worried about all of you!

[eShirl]

93. northeast here, worried about all the midwest folks

*kick*

[1Hippiechick]

131. Southeast here - worried too. We have drought, you have floods, :(

[truedelphi]

94. But - Tim - Russert - DIED!! You want us to worry about

The plight of our nation's food supply?

Or several non-coastal cities and their populations??

When none of those were people ever held forth on MEET THE PRESS!!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

96. bump for another round of heavy rain, hail, and 50 mph wind coming through

[puebloknot]

97. Yesterday, I thought, "This is a mini New Orleans in the Midwest ...

... and we're hearing almost nothing about it. Maybe not so "mini," either. The financial impact may be much larger, though NO tops the list with regard to criminal neglect of a population.

I'm sitting in dry Santa Fe and watching pictures of water in streets and homes, and wondering why we aren't seeing reports of disaster teams coming to help, hearing that food, water, and medical help is on the way. Nah! Not that important. We've got to eulogize a journalist (of the latter day persuasion) who died too young, for hours and hours, using the public airways for that.

I'm seeing the faces of those boy scouts who survived the tornado in Iowa, and I'm seeing Tim Russert's face, and I'm wondering when we're going to grow up and get past our hero worship and take care of the people.

All hail the Midwestern spirit you speak of. It's the saving grace. My aunt set up a kitchen out in the street in her neighborhood in Corpus Christi, Texas after a hurricane had demolished all the houses but her own, and kept people eating for days after the tragedy. We the People know how to take care of our own with the small things, but government assistance has to help with rebuilding of a whole geographic area.

Kudos to you for your rant, and I don't know that I would have been able to delete the expletives!

[OwnedByFerrets]

100. K and R

[madrchsod]

101. downtown janesville wisconsin is flooding

and a dam broke on the fox river near portage wisconsin.....and it`s raining again in the rock river water shed in wisconsin...the rock river from the illinois-wisconsin border is going to set an all time flood crest...

down river from the quad cities the Mississippi levees are starting to fail in places and the wisconsin river and rock river has`t crested yet....

[Skidmore]

102. Like dominoes falling.

[defendandprotect]

124. Re DAMS . ..

Obviously some very shoddy and unsatisfactory work has been done on dams and levees ---
especially in these most recent years --- i.e., New Orleans.

But did want to comment that there was a lot of talk started a while back --- 10-15 years . . . ???
about taking down the dams. There are lots of environmental reasons for this recommendation;
but there are also the Global Warming situations facing us now.

Obviously, as Global Warming proceeds our populations are going to drop ---
That's a stark thing to say --- but we are losing a lot of lives; it's adding up.

People are going to be displaced by disruption or planned moves ---
it's going to have to happen.

Who's talking about this --- ??

And who's avoiding talking about all of this?

[Bluerthanblue]

104. far from it- nothing will make Russert any more dead- but

I fear nothing I could say to those who are going through the hell that is happening in the Midwest will make your suffering any less either. :(

We don't have cable Skidmore, but I have seen and heard on the channel we do get with our antenna- a small glimpse of the magnatude of the flooding. Tales of the flood waters coming up through all the plumbing- I heard a woman this AM speaking about her husband going back after their 4 dogs they had to leave behind, and the police trying to stop them- ?!? The dogs all made it ok- but I can understand her frustration and anguish. People watching their homes fall into raging waters and break apart....


I'm glad that Obama is discussing this- I wish I could do something to let you know I care. I do-

There is so much suffering happening everywhere- and so little tangible many of us can do to ease it.

:hug: my thoughts and prayers are with you and all those struggling through this terrible time.

peace~
blu

[Pierzin]

107. Amen to you Skidmore! Keep the faith!

I could not agree more.

[countryjake]

108. Nine weather-related deaths this week in the Midwest...

having family in the affected areas, I share your rant (with the expletives)!

[cascadiance]

109. I wore my Mickey's Tavern t-shirt today to be in solidarity with folks in Iowa City!

Wish I could be there to help!

Unfortunately, this will be a bigger story when the rest of America starts paying for it with higher food prices! It's already bad enough with the high fuel prices overhead. Now with this it's going to be worse!

[uppityperson]

112. k&r for a national emergency

I asked the question about crops last night, suddenly thinking of it all. It may get tougher for a lot of people. My sincere condolences to all who are directly and immediately affected, I am very sorry and wish the best for you.

[dixiegrrrrl]

114. Weather forecast says

frogs and boils are next....

jeez Louise, floods, tornadoes..my heart does ache for you and for my friends up there in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines...

You are correct, Skidmore, I had to find most of my info. on the web..
but then again, that has been true for the past 8 years. Fortunately,
internet news is becoming very mainstream.

Russert's passing is taking up a lot of news room, tho.

[Swamp Rat]

115. k&r

[defendandprotect]

119. You're right . . .

We keep talking about Global Warming . . . but our two necessities for life are food and
water --- without vegetation there's nothing to feed an animal --- other than another animal
which they've been doing/Mad Cow-wise and all that!!!

Right now Mid-West has a drinking water problem ---

IMO, before Global Warming actually pulls the planet apart or "Katrina's" us all ...
it will be FOOD and water which will be our problems ---

drinking water --- and too much rain ---

[defendandprotect]

123. Additionally, the agenda has been to produce a "third world America" . . .

and we're certainly becoming that!!!

[defendandprotect]

125. Push ---

[boomerbust]

132. Watch Fox

Where it is all ANWR 24/7. DRILL DRILL DRILL to save the economy. These people on Fox are disgusting!

[Skidmore]

134. Fox is blocked on our televisions.

We don't watch any of their Republican party propaganda or their entertainment channels either. Most of us could probably tell you what is being said over their without having to waste electricity or the effort to change the channel.

[whathappened]

138. spot on

we are all going to die , so it just don't mean a thing to me , i just lost all i worked for when my wife broke arm and cound'nt work and when she healed there was no job for her , but i'm thankful i still have my home and a old truck to drive , so rip to russett and plant him just as we would anybody esle and get going on fixing this country and forget about ruleing the world , because it is in bad shape , for all the 1's who think they are on top of the world , think twice , ya could lose it all in a blink of a eye

[whathappened]

139. flood

i posted on this and forgot to say yes this shit has got to stop we need help for this country , i don't give 2 shits about other countrys , they will be there after we are gone and have been there since the beginning of time

[a la izquierda]

140. Hey I really hope you guys are hanging in there up there...

Oklahoma local coverage has been bombarded with the coverage of these two poor little girls' deaths last week.
Even MSNBC got off of the Russert coverage today for a little while and did switch to Iowa; but you're right. CNN has been on and off all day. But now, since Georgie Boy is in London, that's what everyone is talking about.

As most of you probably know, OK got inundated with 21 straight days of rain last year and horrible flooding. You guys take care and hopefully *someone* will be getting ya'll what you need.

[garthranzz]

141. From New Orleans - having been there...

my sympathies and prayers.

It may be something that at least Shrub is in Europe and isn't using you for a photo-op. Was the Federal government, and FEMA, as complicit in your destruction as in ours?

What happened to New Orleans was man-made, made much worse by Bushco.

I have two sons in NE Iowa (Postville).

You're right - more coverage - and support - is needed.

But this is BushCheneyRove country, now, right?

[Skidmore]

143. My son and cousin literally spent months in NOLA helping

with the cleanup. They would literally break down when talking about the devastation they saw.

I think a certain amount of this event was made much worse by very subtle systemic government complicity. There was an article in the Daily Iowan last week (which I will try to find again) which spoke to funding being denied to work on creating a safer environment in the Iowa City area post 1993 lessons.

I can't wait for the elections to come. And we really need to make certain that the margin of defeat for McCain is so large that Obama's election will not be questioned. I know some people are happy to see third party candidates this time, but I'm not one of them, especially those purporting to represent the left.

[lonestarnot]

144. I hear ya Skidmore!

[PeaceNikki]

147. Has ANYONE said that the floods are less important than Russert's death?

[msedano]

149. everyone watches too much tee vee.

lionizing a broadcaster evinces the false intimacy borne of what marie winn terms "the plug-in drug." donne wrote how everyone is diminished when a single person dies. i'd like to see public sorrow at the same magnitude in recognition of every soldier and marine killed in the invasions or in some stupid accident.

talk about shock and awe. standing under bright blue skies and watching a river inexorably rise past the piled sandbags, the earth liquifying under your feet. and here in california we're in drought.

Suddenly, in late afternoon, the trickle turned into a torrent. Beneath their feet, the dirt road was still dry, but far from solid. It rippled with each step, like a water bed.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-flood15-2008jun15,0,7232091.story

so it goes.

[Skidmore]

153. Jesu, that part about the soil rippling with each step

describes our back yard right now. The land squishes when you walk on it and water squirts out to ankle deep and we are about 2.5 miles from the flood waters in our area. Iowa is like a saturate sponge right now.

I stand in awe of these great rivers. I grew up on the banks of the Mississippi and I love that river. There is no other river like it. I loved standing on the high bluffs in the summer and watching its slowly roll around the bend below the Keokuk bridge at the Tri-State area. I loved the steely gray of its ice covered crust in the winter and knowing that it was teeming with life in its beneath the surface. I also feared the powerful Great Lady in her progress to the delta--the currents that could sweep you up and deposit you far downstream and which layed rich silt from northern states and nourished crops.

The rivers here give us the land and they take it away sometimes. I hope we can honor the river with better stewardship after the waters recede.

[Buzz Clik]

151. I listened to NPR this morning for 45 minutes.

I can give you the exact details of where the flood in Iowa has been and where it will be in the coming days, the rivers and towns involved, and how long it will take the waters to recede.

Although NPR acknowledged Russert in their program today and earlier, I have no idea where he was when he died, who was with him or if his lifeless body was simply discovered, when he will be buried, or when his funeral will be.

I guarantee you that DU is far more excited about Russert than the media I watch and listen.

I hope your scorn is directed at DU and not the media. If so, I heartily agree.

btw: A very cold, late spring followed by excessive rains have hit Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa and maybe more. Combine this with the demand for corn for ethanol production, and you will skyrocketing meat processes in the coming year. $40 for an average steak at Outback? Wait for it...

[Shoelace]

155. watch the Weather Channel, they are doing great coverage

just this morning, Mike Sliddel is in Iowa City showing the flooding and I couldn't believe how swiftly that river was flowing. They've been the best so far at flood coverage, especially before about 6pm.