Floods 2008

[sckitzo]

Just wondering if anyone has been affected by the Floods of 2008. We are in Cedar Rapids, and entire neighbor hoods were wiped out. Our downtown is very devistated. Just wondering if anyone else was effected.

[annegarrett]

Have been thinking of you all as my family is from Iowa (Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Tama/Toledo) and my brother now lives in Des Moines but my niece and her mom, stepdad and grandparents lives near Cedar Rapids. Let us know if there is anything we can do--I know virtual hugs isn't a lot of help right now but just know we're thinking of you.

Take care,

[kara]

My mom's office is in Cedar Rapids. A bunch of co-workers drove trucks down to help out the wife of a fellow employee who was out of the country on business. She has three little girls at home and they were being evacuated. The co-workers got them and a lot of their "stuff" out of the house. I know a lot of people moved everything to the attic and upper floors, but water came up over the roof tops. I grew up in Iowa, and remember the Mississippi flooding almost every year. Some years worse than others.

[misscoleyp]

I have a manufacturing plant on the river in Iowa City. They were lucky as they are on the higher bank and all the water went the other direction. Still the water was right at the edge of the parking lot. We were at 50% of our staff for a few days because all the bridges were closed.

I'm sure Wendy will be along later...

[blythe]

Oh how awful. ((hugs))

[sckitzo]

In Cedar Rapids 25,000 people were evacuated, 1400 sqaure blocks were under water, our flood stage is 12 feet, the worst flood in recorded history was in 1925 at 19 feet, the floods of 1993 got up to 18 feet. We were forcasted to get upto 22 feet of water, but last friday the river crested at 32 feet 20 feet above flood stage. I worked downtown, 5 blocks and up a hill from the river, right now we are all working out of hotels. One of our main hospitals had to be totally evacuated. City officals anounced that the Dump the city was supposed to use for the next 25 years is alomost completely full from the flood damage. Our home is fine, but we have many friends and family who lost everything. Just keep us in your thoughts and prayers. FEMA and charites have been amazing, I you have cloths, gift certificates, baby stuff, I know their is a great need, I will try to post an address of phone number, to were these can be sent. Thank you everyone for your support, in this and in everything else to.

[shellysmomdad]

I have an Aunt who lives in an assisted living facility a few blocks from the downtown area. Though she was not directly affected, she had to relocate when the city's drinking water was a concern. She's currently staying with her daughter in a city north of Cedar Rapids. And, our son-in-law & Hailey live in a town not far from Parkersburg, the town that was destroyed recently by a tornado and lives were lost. Iowa has been dealt a devastating blow with recent weather events. Truly a heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone.