Iowa Flooding Leaves 36,000 Homeless

Below is a telling excerpt from AP on the chaos caused by the Iowa flooding. Keep reading more about the floods here.

As Iowa City hoped to elude the worst damage, the state had a multi-front battle on its hands. State officials warned of problems ahead for a string of towns in southeast Iowa along the Mississippi River, led by Burlington, a key railroad hub.

"It's likely that we will see major and serious flooding on every part of the southeastern border of our state from New Boston and down," Culver said. "We are taking precautionary steps, we are evacuating where necessary, but that is going to be the next round here."

Early Monday, more than 36,000 residents in 26 communities had been evacuated from their homes, said Kevin Baskins of the state Emergency Operations Center. Most of those _ 25,000 _ were in Cedar Rapids, and another 5,000 in Iowa City, he said.

Comments

[OutragedMom]

If there are Iowa families that want to come to the Florida heat, I can place one or two for the summer!

[TomPaine07]

I haven't read anything about the Iowa National Guard's response to the flooding. Is it possible that many these soldiers are now stationed in Iraq when they should be in Iowa protecting the 'homeland'? After all, they are the National Guard.

[alaintex]

I'm guessing you don't read much.



National Guard units filled thousands of sandbags in the area known as the Arts Campus. ...
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,367142,00.html - Similar pages

INGOA Home PageINGOA (IOWA NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS ASSOCIATION)- The purpose of the ... The INGOA represents all Iowa National Guard personnel, Army, Air, and Retirees.
www.iowaofficers.org/ - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

The National Guard - Iowa National Guard supporting tornado relief ...May 29, 2008 ... Iowa National Guard Soldiers patrol the streets of Parkersburg May 28, three days after a tornado ravaged the town, destroying homes and ...
www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2008/05/052908-tornado_relief.aspx - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

Air, Army National Guard battle floods in IowaMore than 2500 Air and Army National Guardsmen are teaming with agencies from across the state to battle what has been called the 500-year flood in Central ...
www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123102858 - 28k - 20 hours ago - Cached - Similar pages

Iowa National Guard Activity Report | KCRG-TV9 Cedar Rapids, Iowa ...DES MOINES - The Iowa National Guard, in conjunction with the office of Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge, Iowa Department of Homeland ...
www.kcrg.com/news/local/19922954.html - 61k - Cached - Similar pages




Search Iowa National Guard unless you prefer uninformed snark.

[CrapWhisperer]

.

Like you knew before you googled it!
.

[azureblue]

"The problem is building cites in a flood plain and covering the ground with impervious surface."

How true. and:

"The problem is building a city in a flood area. They knew they were building in an area that could be flooded, so why should we help them?" But this was said about New Orleans. and by a person from Iowa.

So the chickens have come home to roost. How does it feel now that you are in need? Do you still deride people from New Orleans who were also left homeless, and to a much greater number? Do you immediately run to the government wanting help? Do you wonder if Bush is going to lie to you abut helping like he did New Orleans? Do you wonder if he will do nothing for months, while you live in formaldehyde filled FEMA trailers? Do you think your need is greater than the need of New Orleanians?
Do you wonder if this nation will turn its back on you, just as they did New Orleans?

The people form New Orleans just hope Bush responds to you better than he did to us. And we hope you will remember that our city still is in ruins.

[3Gs]

These homeless are a majority of white people. They should have no problem getting the assistance they need.

[claylandg]

What are you trying to say with this statement?

[openlids]

yea, like the FEMA response to the fires here in SoCal last year

[alaintex]

This is being identified as a 500 year flood.

Hardly an irresponsible condition for building a house.

[helonias]

A throughly responsible condition for building a house in a flood plain covered with impervious surface..

[highlyamused]

"a person from Iowa."?? I hope this doesn't mean you're judging a whole state by what "a person from Iowa." said?
I have so many friends who drove to N.O. to help after Katrina. Factor that in when you make your assessment.

From Iowa

And we don't want or need Bush here. He can stay in Germany, or Ireland as far as I'm concerned.

[mathme]

The last few presidential elections in Iowa:
92 Cl.inton
96 Cl.inton
00 G.ore
04 B.ush (and I kind suspect shenanagans)

If the point of that post is that people who support repugs had that coming, then, well, IA didn't have it coming even using that logic.

[mathme]

Whom are you addressing? The chickens are coming home to roost in IA? Because... they deserved it? I'm not sure I understand.

[alaintex]

"the chickens have come home to roost"


LOL



I guess you could be correct if you're talking about the poultry industry in Iowa.



Very rural countryside you know.

[SantaFeStars]

Poor George, he was indeed born with a silver spoon in his little mouth! He doesn't have a clue and doesn't care much about the "little guy's" problems..........Obama is the man to lead this country out of disaster!!!!!!! Blessing to all back in Iowa who have suffered and may you find a rainbow at the end of this tragedy.

[ianrthorpe]

Global Warming has always been used to misrepresent what will happen. In the middle of winter when we all shiver or on a beautiful day like we are having here in Lancashire (54 degrees north) its easy to say "Global warming, yeah we'll have some of that, but the reality is a slight upward movement in the mean temperature such as we have seen in the past few decades, barely discernanble from the human p.o.v. will cause extremes of weather that will wrteak havoc with our way of life.

When President Bush uttered that famous line about the American lifestyle not being up for negotiation I responded with an article titled Nature Does Not Negotiate.

Looks like I was right so here's another prediction. All the people touting new technologies to save the planet are just looking to make a quick buck, the only way to turn things round is for us all to change our ways NOW!

We don't have to go overboard, only the climate change deniers talk about going back to a medieval lifestyle. Its just a case of little things, the way we drive, swuitching to low energy light bulbs, turning off the TV when nobody is watching, hundreds of little things like that. Its just a question of living more thoughtfully.

http://boggartblog.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=6

[helonias]

The problem is building cites in a flood plain and covering the ground with impervious surface.

[YankeeCanuck]

Many cities in the US were built on rivers, before the automobile or even the rail system, because rivers provided transportation. You know the rest-- suburbs account for a lot of impermeable surface. Cities with density are actually more efficient.But the car lured us to abandon them.

[highlyamused]

Exactly. Should be so obvious.......but there are always those who like to condemn just for the sake of condemning.

[biglover]

Look at us here in California. Most of the state runs along earthquake fault lines but people flock to live here and how do you stop people from doing that? Every state has its problems

[slobone]

You mean like New York? Or Chicago? Or Washington D.C.?

Any river can flood. And I fail to see what difference the surface makes. Are you suggesting that people in Iowa should live only use dirt roads?

[wkitwizard]

Karl Rove's airline will fly Bush over the area soon. Just remember, "Heckofajob".

[alaintex]

I thought Karl Rove was in jail.

Conyers said over a month ago that he had to testify within a week or he was going to have him arrested.

More lies.

[CrapWhisperer]

.

Conyers is currently negotiating with roves attorneys and the threat of arrest is still a real option. I guarantee you the big bang of this investigation will not start until mid August thereby assuring its front page run through the election.

Given that scotty's new book has opened a new round of investigations into bushco especially cheneyz and given that conyers has requested an unprecedented amount of "floor" time for the next 5 months should be a sign of upcoming fantastic activity ... not lies!

Try to keep up ...
.

[helonias]

Iowa Flooding Leaves 36,000 Homeless

Iraqi War Leaves 2,000,000 Homeless

[3Gs]

McCain's presidency will leave us all homeless.

[naschkatze]

More like 4 or 5 million.

[windwalker1984]

'This is a great example of America at its best': Obama
shows gratitude for volunteers, urges for more help in Quincy'

By RODNEY HART
Herald-Whig Staff Writer


Justin Bower was shoveling dirt into a sandbag in the parking lot on the south side of the Oakley-Lindsay Center Saturday afternoon when up walked a man who hopes to be president of the United States.

His reaction to meeting Illinois Sen. Barack Obama? “Speechless,” said Bower, 21, one of hundreds of volunteers who continued to fill sandbags in the biggest flood-fighting effort in the Midwest in 15 years.

Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, made a whirlwind appearance in Quincy. He expressed gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers who already have turned out, and urged others to donate their time in Quincy and elsewhere.......

“We’re grateful to all the volunteers who are already here,” Obama said. “We still need more like them. Grab some of your friends and neighbors for a couple of hours after church (Sunday). The next few days will be critical.”



Obama spent an hour filling sandbags. The story went on to state that local Republican officials were impressed with Obama taking the time to help out, although one said he might get in trouble for saying that. While Bush was traveling Europe on his farewell tour and McCain was saying a prayer for the flood victims, Obama was traveling Iowa and Illinois, helping fill sandbags and talking to flood victims firsthand. Who is more presidential?

[3Gs]

One small reason why Obama ROCKS!

O -08

[UnknownSoldier]

Yeah, even it is only cermonial, it is a very huge gesture on the part of Obama. I'm sure the people in Quincy probably did not vote for him enmasse, but he is their Senator and he came to help.

[GoBamaGo]

killer

[SunlakeDude]

I understand that this is a considered a "500 Year Flood" meaning it is expected to occur only once every 500 years, on average. if this is true, perhaps this is a result of Global Climate Change. Most climate experts agree that "weird weather" would accompany the planet's warming followed by more severe events later on.

[YankeeCanuck]

What it actually means is that the odds of a flood happening are the same each year: 1 in 500. It is a model based on about 100 years of records and extrapolated by computer.

But that does not mean that global warming is not playing a pert in the widespread weather disturbances we are experiencing.

[ebanks84]

...global warning or H.A.A.R.P! Either one could have done it.

[dirtystrat]

"But that does not mean that global warming is not playing a part in the widespread weather disturbances we are experiencing."

It also doesn't mean that it is playing a part.

[SunlakeDude]

I thought the odds of a Midwest flood were greater than 1 in 500 but this flood is far more serious than most, so that is why they are calling it a "500 Year Flood". It seems to me that this is much more serious than anything I have heard of happening in the Midwest. But then, I live in New Orleans which is still recovering from a "500 Year Hurricane".

[helonias]

Along the upper Delaware River in NJ they have had several 100 years floods in the past few years.

[TheCritic]

I wonder what Rev. Hagee would say about this tragedy!

[ebanks84]

I would hate to find out:)

[srvblooze]

That headline might just as well have read "36,000 new Democrats"

[alaintex]

I don't think so. A pretty fair majority of Iowans were already Democrats.

[CyrilOReily]

i dont seen why this is is is George Gashes poblem any how. What about them poeples who lives in Iona. THey is the ones with the poblem. The Presnenedent aint reponsible for NOTHING> Except to keeep us from being attached agian from them Muslims htth this is how I see it any how.

[ebanks84]

What?

[CyrilOReily]

Sorry I meaned George BASH>

[paulfromportland]

J, taking a break from Political Animal, eh?

[pad759]

Learn how to spell.

[biglover]

Oy vey - CyrilOReily is back. This person is beyond illiterate - this person is really scary.

[UnknownSoldier]

OMG I'm hystrical laughing at this.

[biwee]

Well, clearly these folks need assistance. But, how can that be forthcoming in any meaningful way??
This nation is in debt up to its earlobes. Over $9 trillion in debt (excludes unfunded liabilities), and annual budget deficits heading back UP, perhaps in the $400 billion annual range. But, fools like
Bush and Cheney think it is just fine to spend $12 billion a month in an unnecessary war of choice.
Face it, the Repubbies think more of Blackwater and Halliburton and KBR than its own citizens.