Midwest Floods

[BarTopDancer]

Levee breaks (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080617/ts_nm/usa_flooding_dc;_ylt=AgpvlqDHz6U2TIHfwadTczKs0NUE)

This situation is so sad.

It sounds like the local government is on top of disbursing and accepting help.

Do we have any members in the area?

[Kevy Baby]

There is one image that I have seen many times that I hate to admit has been amusing. Yes, I am being callous, laughing at someone's suffering, but this one image is just, well: funny

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080614/capt.6ea759bac7024a7ba527bad572ed8893.aptopix_seve re_weather_midwest_flooding_iajr107.jpg?x=251&y=345&sig=aVtoRyZA0yaDqSKQBiPENA--

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

yeah - everyone likes living so close to each other....

[Prudence]

I have strong family ties to Iowa (as I've only mentioned a gazillion times before) and this hits pretty hard. The 1993 floods were awful (I was there in 1993) and for this to be worse - it's just unimaginable to me. The impact on food prices will likely be significant, as it's too late to plant another crop.

And I'm not actually amused by the photo at all. I know what those buildings would have looked like in their original setting, and the loss is heartbreaking.

[blueerica]

We have 3894 up in Wisco... and I have a few friends of my own living up in the area...

[CoasterMatt]

God hates the I-States

[Not Afraid]

Gas and Groceries - things we can't do without are going to be costly this year.

[Stan4dSteph]

3894 is northeast of the area in Wisconsin that was affected.

[3894]

3894 is northeast of the area in Wisconsin that was affected.

Yeah and if you ask me "How do I get to Madison from your house?", the answer is: You can't. The road is out.

Meaning my access to Trader Joe's has been temporarily severed.

[Alex]

Surely you can still get there by way of Canada and North Dakota! Show some determination in getting your TJs!

[Stan4dSteph]

Surely you can still get there by way of Canada and North Dakota! Show some determination in getting your TJs!True. Pioneer spirit and all that. I have a whole ocean between me and the nearest TJs.

Any estimates on how long it will take to fix, 3894?

[cirquelover]

Most of my mothers family is in Iowa. My Mom and Grandma have had flooding in the basement but otherwise ok. I get daily reports on the flooding and how bad it is in Des Moines for all my cousins. It was worse when they were having tornados and the beginning of the floods. Then I worried about the two little old ladies in the basement. It was worse at night because they both have oxygen at night and couldn't hear the town siren if their life depended on it, which it does! There's not much you can do with two stubborn ladies when you are many states away though.

The crop situation is horrible and I can't imagine Iowa without corn. It just doesn't seem possible!

[3894]

Click here (http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/incident-alerts.htm) to see how flooding is affecting Wisconsin roads.

[BarTopDancer]

Most of my mothers family is in Iowa. My Mom and Grandma have had flooding in the basement but otherwise ok. I get daily reports on the flooding and how bad it is in Des Moines for all my cousins. It was worse when they were having tornados and the beginning of the floods. Then I worried about the two little old ladies in the basement. It was worse at night because they both have oxygen at night and couldn't hear the town siren if their life depended on it, which it does! There's not much you can do with two stubborn ladies when you are many states away though.

The crop situation is horrible and I can't imagine Iowa without corn. It just doesn't seem possible!

Are there any local organizations to donate to?

The Red Cross is always a good stand-by, but they don't earmark donations for specific events.

[cirquelover]

The Red Cross has been a lifesaver in many parts of Iowa. I don't know of any local organizations for them that are helping but Iowa has that help your neighbor viewpoint. Which I think is great in any kind of emergency, it's amazing to watch communities pul together.

My Mom siad the local butcher stopped by their place to see if they needed any help because he knew the two little old ladies live alone. A kid down the road came by and took away tree branches and dug a ditch so the water would go away from the basement. He wouldn't even take any money she said.

I'm just glad there are people to help them out because I am way too far away to do anything.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Cirque, that's awesome that people watch out for each other like that. I'm glad to know the Midwest is still like that; it's one of the things I liked about living in Minnesota.