Flood of 2008 Thread (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: hotel, luxury, assess)

[Chris19]

My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the flooding in Iowa and other reaches of the Midwest and am confident that the people have the courage and endurance to handle the flooding with stride and come out as stronger and wiser people in the end.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by cobolt

I've been looking online to sign up for volunteer opportunities to help out those in the Midwest flood area. I am currently in the Seattle area but would like to take my time to physically help in any way I can. Does anyone have any suggestions about how someone who isn't local would pursue this? I only see monetary donation sites or sites soliciting the help of local communities.

Thanks

If you're dead set on coming out and volunteering (although at this point, my guess is money is needed as much or more than physical help) here are a few websites to check out.


Governor Culver's Official Flood Site

Corridor Recovery (IC/CR)

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

If you're dead set on coming out and volunteering (although at this point, my guess is money is needed as much or more than physical help) here are a few websites to check out.


Governor Culver's Official Flood Site

Corridor Recovery (IC/CR)

We'll need twice the volunteers we had for sandbagging to help with the clean up process, problem is that the clean up process isn't as "glamourous" and barely anyone will show up. Pathetic really.

[adysmom]

Hurricane Katrina vs. Devastating Iowa 500 Year Flood




Why aren't all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons and asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?
Why isn't the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem?
Where are all the FEMA trucks and trailers?
Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago ?
When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines ?
Where is Sean Penn in his rescue boat and the Dixie Chicks?
Where are all the 24/7 lurid news tales of cannibalism and unnecessary drownings?
Why did Iowans evacuate so prematurely; why are they not holed up in deathtrap sports centers?
Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?
When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a 'vanilla' Iowa , because that's the way God wants it?
Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?
Why are the Iowans not complaining more and demanding to be saved?
How come in about 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?

[DMRyan]

This is Iowa and I'm relieved that we don't have a circus after our disaster. We're showing the nation how to help out our neighbors in times of tragedy.

It speaks volumes of our people, which is the state's best asset.

[Roy G. Biv]

Katrina was a very different situation. The flooding happened suddenly in the middle of the night and was unexpected. They didn't know how big this flood would be in Iowa, but it slowly crept up over the span of a few days.

Katrina was the deadliest hurricane since the 1920s (almost 2000 deaths), the third biggest to hit the US and the most expensive natural disaster ever in the US.

BTW, there are FEMA people all over the hardest-hit flood areas, especially here in Cedar Rapids.

[rsruss6399]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

This is Iowa and I'm relieved that we don't have a circus after our disaster. We're showing the nation how to help out our neighbors in times of tragedy.

It speaks volumes of our people, which is the state's best asset.

I agree 100%. I have never been prouder to be an Iowan. The endless efforts by so many is a testiment to what kind of people we really our in Iowa.

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by Roy G. Biv

Katrina was a very different situation. The flooding happened suddenly in the middle of the night and was unexpected. They didn't know how big this flood would be in Iowa, but it slowly crept up over the span of a few days.

Katrina was the deadliest hurricane since the 1920s (almost 2000 deaths), the third biggest to hit the US and the most expensive natural disaster ever in the US.

BTW, there are FEMA people all over the hardest-hit flood areas, especially here in Cedar Rapids.

Suddenly? Unexpected? HAHAHAHA give me a break, they had several days notice.

[Roy G. Biv]

Originally Posted by LPerkins33

Suddenly? Unexpected? HAHAHAHA give me a break, they had several days notice.

They didn't have several days notice that the Lake Pontchartrain levee would break in the middle of the night when it would supposed to withstand much larger hurricanes.

[QuadCityImages]

I do think we handled it better, but I also don't think its a fair comparison to make. There are more differences than similarities.