So I'm Supposed To Evacuate...

[Ash]

Here are some more pics I took...
Click them to view full size.

Quaker Oats factory


Downtown



(I think those are sandbags in a curved shape in the middle of the road)

[Justy]

I heard that it was so bad that it looked like from above that Iowa had a coastline. I hope that all turns out OK for you guys out there.

[Mr_Vindictive]

I can't even begin to imagine how devastating this is for your city and for the state in general.  I'm one who has always been used to flooding.  Living on the coast of NC, I've had my share of hurricanes and resulting floods.  We had an outdoor generator and I have numerous memories of my young teens, wading through chest deep water with water moccasins swimming around me, just so I could go to the shed in the backyard and fill it up with gasoline.

Despite the devastation and tragedy of the flooding, there is something hauntingly beautiful about seeing a town square filled with water such as your pictures show.  Civilization is only up to the whim of nature....there is something amazing in that.

[Scott]

Ash do you have flashlights, food, and bottled water?

Cedar Rapids looks like a neat town (minus the flood that is).

[CheezeFlixz]

Well good luck ... I'd say I hope the water recedes quickly, but I'm down river we'll get it next and while we haven't had any rain to amount to anything in a few weeks we're under a flood watch from the water coming down from up north. It's already started flooding here. But at least I'm on high ground I know they have already started raising the flood gates in MO and IL. Hopefully it well stop raining there and the weather will calm down.

[all saints day]

Here's what I emailed you, but used to being ignored:

Saw your thread about the flood and wanted to email you, I hope you don't mind.  I'm concerned you've decided to stay, flooding is insidious...  but if you've made up your mind to stay, be sure to buy all necessary foodstuffs, including stuff you can eat without having to cook.  Water!  Don't forget to buy bottled water, or stock up (we always fill the tub just in case when hurricanes come thru).  Grab matches especially if you smoke, but even if not.  Candles, flashlight?  

How long do you suppose the floodwater will hang around?  All of my precautions are related to that circumstance.  

Good luck, and best.  

[Ash]

Check out this video below.
Keep in mind that this was taken by someone else right around the time I left my apartment on 6-12.
The level to qualify for "flood stage" is something like 12 ft.
Friday (6-13) the water rose even higher and finally crested at a whopping 31.12 feet!  
Check out this graph to see the details.

Major Flooding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvBJhDgRfe8

[Scott]

That's some serious flooding. Strange how it's never happened before in Cedar Rapids.

[Jack]

You're lucky you live several floors up, so all your stuff should be okay.

[Patient7]

Wow, that's some nasty flooding.

[Mr. DS]

Best wishes to you and everyone out there Ash.  I have a relative who lives in the same area as you and I'm currently trying to figure out whats going on with them.   Aside the people out there being effected, I have a feeling it is obviously going to have a huge effect on the vegetable crops out there as well.  I went there once and I recall marvelling at the amount of corn and soy bean crops in the area.   I hope all works out for the folks effected by this flooding. 

[Raffine]

Corn prices are already being affected by the floods:
http://www.southwestiowanews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19771728&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=627131&rfi=6

Naturally, gasoline prices will rise because of the increase in cost of ethanol.

I do wonder if corn becomes really dear, will soda manufacturers revert to using cane sugar in their products rather than high-fructose corn syrup?

[Patient7]

Corn prices are already being affected by the floods:
http://www.southwestiowanews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19771728&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=627131&rfi=6

Naturally, gasoline prices will rise because of the increase in cost of ethanol.

I do wonder if corn becomes really dear, will soda manufacturers revert to using cane sugar in their products rather than high-fructose corn syrup?

This will begin the American Corn Famine, like the Irish Potato Famine, but not as Irish and still containing potatoes.

[all saints day]

[RCMerchant]

Check out this video below.
Keep in mind that this was taken by someone else right around the time I left my apartment on 6-12.
The level to qualify for "flood stage" is something like 12 ft.
Friday (6-13) the water rose even higher and finally crested at a whopping 31.12 feet!  
Check out this graph to see the details.

Major Flooding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvBJhDgRfe8

WOW. Dam. Here I am p**sing and moaning about being in the pokey for a few weeks....and your driven from yer house by Gawd hisself! Wow. dam. Whatta mess. Man. For once I'm at a loss for words.