Flooded in Iowa

2008 will be a weather year to remember in Cedar Rapids, that is for sure! We had a near-record snowfall over the winter (missed the all-time high by about 3 inches) and record flooding (the Cedar River crested at 31 feet....11 feet over the previous record). Fortunately our home is not in the flood zone, but in addition to about 2000 homes, most of our local, county, state, and federal government offices took on significant water. Good news for a mall on my side of town: after struggling for months to find renters, it is now filled with government offices. Bad news for the recovery effort: displaced government agencies are challenged to get services to people in this time of need.

We are thankful for a large house that has enabled us to temporarily take in a family of 6 (and their 6 guinea pigs, which the kids love). We're a bit crowded, but everyone is getting settled into their space and we are slowly finding a household system that works. Now if only our clothes dryer would work....that would be a huge help! Thank God for generous neighbors who have been helping us with laundry for the past 2 weeks.

I haven't spent a lot of time in the flood zone, but it is pretty hard to describe. Our housemate, Helena, has called it a war zone and that's pretty accurate. There are blocks and blocks of residential areas fronted with piles of appliances, personal possessions, drywall, etc. that have been pulled from flooded houses. The streets are littered with broken lathe, insulation, and litter that "the claw" picked up but dropped outside the dump trucks. Buildings have water lines, some as high as the roof eves. A collapsed railroad bridge disappears from the shore into the water, still carrying loaded cars that succeeded in preventing it from floating downstream and causing more destruction. A houseboat that came unmoored is lilting near the shore a couple miles downstream of its dock; others have become piles of rubble after being tossed against concrete bridges and pilings. Downtown is deserted and still without power, 2 weeks after the crest. Many buildings have huge pumps or fans in their entrances to assist in the drying process. The smell of standing water and growing mold permeates the area. If you want to come check it out personally, you're welcome as long as you bring your work clothes and boots -- but you'll have to sleep at the neighbors' house...our "No Vacancy" sign is lit!

Our pastor has been doing a series on end time events from the book of Revelation and other passages of prophecy. One of the characteristics of the beginning of the end of this world is an increase in natural disasters, famine, and other devastating situations. If this is any indication of what is to come -- and get increasingly worse -- I'm very glad to be on God's side so I can look forward to peace in Heaven after my life here is finished!

Here are a few links that have photos representative of our city:
Dry vs Wet Downtown: www.kcrg.com/younews/20494299.html
Collapsed Railroad Bridge: www.kcrg.com/younews/22148894.html?img=1&mg=t
Clean-up Process: www.kcrg.com/younews/20574454.html
Inside our power company offices: www.kcrg.com/younews/20203789.html