The Mighty Power of a River
June 17, 2008.A powerful reminder - it’s not just about whitewater rafting…
Mother Nature reminded us in a big way the past week of her overwhelming power. The kind folks in the Midwest, particularly Iowa, have been hit hard by severe storms, heavy rains, flooding rivers and personal devastation.
Iowa Governor Chet Culver recently stated that floodwaters have affected 50% of the state as nine major rivers in Iowa are flooding. The normal flow of the Des Moines River near Des Moines is around 7,000 cfs . In 2001, the max flow was 13,700 cfs. Yesterday it reached 39,100 cfs. The governor issued disaster proclamations for 83 of the state’s 99 counties. At least three deaths in Iowa have been attributed to the flooding.
"This is our version of Katrina," Johnson County Emergency Management spokesman Mike Sullivan said of Iowa City. "This is the worst flooding we’ve ever seen."
I visited Iowa on a whim once (which led to a stint as a Women’s Chicken Calling Contest judge at the 2007 Iowa State Fair) and am still astounded by the kindness and generosity shown to me. Of all the places I’ve been, of all the people I’ve encountered – Iowans by far are the most genuine and friendly and caring.
In the spirit in which I was treated…
Here are some links to help with flood victims in Iowa:
http://www.kcci.com/news/16552924/detail.html
http://www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema/states.aspx?ST=Iowa
A great source for up-to-date news can be found in the Iowa Flood News blog and in the Des Moines Register.
