APUG'ers in Iowa, holding out with the floods?

Hey guys, just wanted to check in with the APUG'ers in Iowa; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, etc.

Is there anyone in the area that may know how things are going? I'm down in Kansas City and was thinking of heading up that way this weekend to lend assistance if I'd be of any use. Just trying to get a feel for things before I head up blindly.

I hope everyone is doing okay, considering. Thanks for the information and best wishes to everyone affected.

Thanks,

Hi Chris,

I am near Ottumwa on the Des Moines River. We expect to have our river crest sometime on Sunday. Rumor has it that it will be higher than the 1993 high water mark. We have been preparing for it 24 hours a day for the past week. A 10 foot earthen dam is being built around our Water Works plant to protect it from being flooded if and when the sand bags and earth berms along the river banks give way.

Many county roads are flooded and are closed to all traffic.

The towns North of here are really in bad shape. I think Cedar Rapids is probably the worst from what I have seen. The Cedar River is out of its banks and much of Cedar Rapids is under water. The Hospital was evacuated this morning. (Friday 6/13/2008).

Iowa City is also having major flooding from the Iowa River.

Many small business owners that I have talked to are very nervous, they do not have flood insurance and this could possibly be very devastating for them.

The fishing is pretty good in the corn fields right now.

Wayne

I work in Des Moines, but live a bit north of there. The rivers in Des Moines have crested and are on the way down. So far the damage in Des Moines has not been too bad. Here in Cambridge, we've had a crapload of rain. This little town doesn't really have storm sewers, is flat, and drains poorly. A half dozen homes have been ruined, and most folks have water in their basements, including me for the first time ever. The darkroom is out of commission until it dries out. We didn't lose anything thank goodness.

In Cedar Rapids, the previous record high crest of the Cedar River was 19 feet. It went to 32 feet this time. The entire city is under water, nearly 500 city blocks I think. It's unbelievable.

The forecast is showing just a slight chance of isolated storms. A long dry spell will certainly be welcome.

I'm not sure how much help will be needed. I think the sand bagging is done for now. There will be clean up next. Check kcci.com or whotv.com for more details.

>>>The fishing is pretty good in the corn fields right now. <<<

: )

So sorry about all that. I wish there was a way to move a little of that rain this way. We need it badly!

I'm lucky that I live in a part of town that doesn't flood here. Most people's basements in this town have water. We apparently

I passed by an INCREDIBLE photo just outside of Webster City on old highway 20 going to Fort Dodge. Large pool of standing water in a corn field, row of trees behind it, sun setting in just the right way, trees reflecting in the water. It would've been beautiful. Some beauty out of all this would be nice, which is why I think I may take the camera back out tomorrow.

After the big flood of 1965 our town leaders had the foresight to work with the Corp of Engineers and build a flood levee protecting the town so we are pretty safe unless it's a 10,000 year flood. (Funny but since 1993 we've had 4 500 year floods......)

West of here in Iowa City and especially Cedar Rapids it isn't very pretty. Crossing Iowa east to west is dicey as so many roads cross over the Iowa and Cedar rivers, plus they closed I-80 just east of Iowa City. 110 mile detour north, whew!!

And yes, we'd be more than glad to send some of this water to the dry parts!

I'm in the middle of it. I live in Cedar Rapids. We are not one of the homes affected, but the whole downtown is under water right now, so saying we're "unaffected" just means our house is dry, and we have power. The city's biggest concern is water - we're not to use ANY except for drinking. I'd planned to do some darkroom work and print a State Fair entry, but now it looks like that won't happen. Can't afford the water.

I am glad to hear that everyone up that way is all right. I have been watching your situation since the Mississippi is also high and we are in a flood plain should the levy go. However, the river is also connected to various lakes around us so they are going up too.

Man...if you could only send the water our way...we're in a drought situation already.

I have often wondered if it would be worth a pipeline or two to some Western Reservoir that could be kicked on during high rains or floods to move what could be moved Westward, but it would probably be very, very expensive water...

Here is our latest flood warning:

Flood Warning Update

/O.CON.KDMX.FL.W.0138.000000T0000Z- 000000T0000Z/ /OTMI4.3.ER.080609T1545Z. 080615T1800Z.000000T0000Z.NR/ 426 AM CDT SUN JUN 15 2008

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE DES MOINES RIVER AT OTTUMWA. * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...OR THE WARNING IS CANCELLED. * AT 3:00 AM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 19.8 FEET. * MAJOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 10.0 FEET. * FORECAST...THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 21.3 FEET BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON THEN BEGIN FALLING.

Wayne

I'm glad nobody is hurt at least. I registered to volunteer and have gotten a few emails back saying they have plenty of people right now. It's nice to see that people have stepped up to help as much as possible!

My weekend turned south, though, so it's a good thing I didn't go up there. The children's hospital I work for was kind enough to give me a nice souvenir to take home.. pneumonia! I've honestly never been in that much pain before, but the ER fixed me up a couple hours ago and I'm already improving.

Hang in there Iowans! I have family up in Illinois that had to finally evacuate their newly remodled home just today. The water was lapping at the doorstep. I'll keep you all in my thoughts. Take care!

Kino said:

I have often wondered if it would be worth a pipeline or two to some Western Reservoir that could be kicked on during high rains or floods to move what could be moved Westward, but it would probably be very, very expensive water...

Click to expand...

Some in the dry west have been scheming for years ways of piping the Great Lakes to the west.

Bob