Some of you have emailed about the massive flooding in Cedar Rapids. I thought I would do a post with an update. I won't share pictures as they are plentiful on www.kcrg.com and www.gazetteonline.com.
We live in Marion, a north suburb of Cedar Rapids. We have not had flooding at our house except for some flash flooding from a creek across the street. We also still have power and cable which is amazing. The big problem is water. They say there is a day and a half left for Cedar Rapids if it isn't conserved. Marion has its own system and is pumping to CR to help with the demand. This could last weeks. We are a very smelly town full of people in tshirts, women in poneytails and lots of baseball hats....men and women.
I work at the point you saw a number of news broadcasts in downtown Cedar Rapids. The water was within 50 feet of our building but we are on a slight hill and that saved us. We, as the Chamber of Commerce, have a huge job ahead. This morning we took business owners with a National Guard escort through the skywalks to businesses located on the 2nd floor or above on the skywalk. This covers over 10 blocks. Once we had them in their building they had 20 minutes to gather essentials to continue business and get out. We turned away over 900 people because the fire department found a gas leak and after clearing it took over from our staff and the Guard to finish the escorts. I am now home, riding out yet another thunderstorm and getting ready to head to our neighbor's 40th birthday party. Port o pottys and all.
It'll be at least 10 days before the water is back below flood stage, downtown is a disaster, we saw it from the skywalks with broken windows on storefronts and water rushing in to everything from the businesses to the main library to the historic theater where Isabelle had her dance recital last month. We are preparing to go to Washington to ask for the money to rebuild. Our two senators are in key positions (one to appropriate the money and one to approve) and the budget director for the White House is also from here and he was here Friday for the FEMA tour. Probably more than any of you care to know but the pictures you see on the news can't capture what this has done to a community of 175,000 people.
Thank you everyone. Been a heck of a year in Iowa! Sara
2 comments:
Thanks for the update, Sara. We've been wondering about you. My biggest client is in Coralville. So we've been watching closely. Tad
Coralville is getting it but it isn't going any higher so they are thankful. We are partner to that chamber so I spend a lot of time in Iowa City/Coralville.
The President is suppose to be here tomorrow. It is something new ever day! Today I was dealing with DNR and wastewater discharge for large industry. We need help from the Gov. Never would have thought this would be part of a days work. - Sara
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