Rays for the State of Iowa

[MindyKay]

Flooding continues in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and points in between.  All bridges in Cedar Rapids are under water, except the I-380 bridge, but I-380 is closed in both directions from about 10 miles north of Cedar Rapids to about 3 miles south to allow emergency vehicles.  The interstate was back up by gawkers looking at the river.  The Penford railroad bridge collapsed, tossing several cars (thankfully empty) into the river.  Over 17,000 people have no power, and there is a mandatory evacuation of anyone in the 500-year floodplain.

Mandatory evacuations are occuring in Coralville and Iowa City, as the Coralville Reservoir has gone over its emergency spillway.

They are thinking of closing Interstate 80.

And, it is raining, with 4 inches expected before the rain stops.

Also rays and prayers for the Boy Scouts whose Leadership Camp was hit by a tornado.  4 Scouts were killed and many injured.

I'm OK, and so is Ozzy.

Again, sorry I have not been on the board for a while.  My life got very interesting lately.

[Teresa]

I'm so glad you posted Mindy. I was thinking about you this morning and had planned to put a post on here tonight to see if you were okay. I hope everything starts returning to normal soon, even though I'm sure there are many lives that will have to learn to live with a new kind of normal.

[cheryl186]

Thank goodness you all are okay.  Many prayers and well wishes to everyone in Iowa who have been affected by the horrible weather and flooding.  Special prayers and well wishes to the Boy Scouts and their families.  God Bless you all.

[sollysmom]

Sending prayers for all who are affected by this.  I hope things get better soon for all.  Please keep us posted on how you are doing so we won't worry too much.

Darcel 

[Rich]

We are ok here in Des Moines. Our house is up too high to be affected by the flooding but we do have water in the basement. Everyone here is hoping that the water treatment plant does not flood as it did in 1993 when Des Moines went without water for 21 days.  Starting tomorrow Interstate 80 will be closed between the quad cities and Des Moines they say for 2 or 3 days. It has been raining here in the form of violent thunderstorms almost every day for 2 weeks. Now at last we are looking at 3 or 4 days without rain.  At last report 10,000 people were forced to evacuate Cedar Rapids when a levee failed. Downtown Cedar Rapids is now part of the river. Between the  tornados and the floods many many people have lost everything. We are counting our blessings.  Please send some prayers and rays for those not so fortunate.

[Brekkesmom]

Mindy - good to hear you're okay, and Rich & Deb as well.  My sister is in Davenport and says she has to take different routes to work, depending on which roads are closed.  Do the dachsies have dry spots outside to do their business, or do you hover with umbrellas?